Doha: The Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Roslyn Morauta, has hailed Qatar as a valued and consistent partner in the global effort to combat infectious diseases, emphasizing the country’s increasing prominence in global health financing.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Morauta described the Global Fund as a “unique partnership” that unites governments, private foundations, and civil society to achieve measurable health outcomes in developing countries.
Since its creation in 2002, the Fund has disbursed over $70bn to low-and middle-income nations, saving more than 70 million lives and reducing deaths from the three major diseases by 63 percent.
“The Global Fund is not like any other multilateral organisation,” Morauta said. “It is built on a true public-private partnership model where both donors and implementers have equal say. Those who receive funding have as much voice as those who give it.”
Morauta noted that Qatar joined the Fund as a donor in 2016 and has since steadily increased its contributions. Although Qatar currently holds a non-voting seat on the donor side of the Global Fund Board, Morauta expressed hope that Doha’s growing involvement would soon translate into a full voting position.
“Qatar has been a consistent and valued partner since 2016,” she said. “They have increased their support each cycle, and we would very much like to see them take on a full voting role. Having a strong voice from the Gulf is important, particularly in today’s global context.”
She acknowledged the Gulf region’s broader history of engagement, pointing out that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were among the earliest donors, followed by Qatar and later the United Arab Emirates. Beyond financial contributions, Qatar has also been a proactive participant in health diplomacy through platforms such as the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) and the Doha Forum.
The Global Fund is currently in a replenishment cycle, seeking to raise $18bn to sustain progress toward eliminating AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria by 2030. Morauta explained that the target was based on “rigorous analysis,” emphasizing that sufficient funding could save an additional 23 million lives and reduce deaths by a further 60 percent compared to 2023 levels.
Despite challenges in securing aid amid competing global priorities—including conflicts, migration pressures, and defense spending—momentum is growing. “We’ve had strong pledges from major partners such as Germany and the Gates Foundation. ” Morauta noted. “But we must keep fighting until the last day.”
Morauta highlighted that Qatar’s growing engagement reflects its broader commitment to global development and health security. “Qatar is deeply interested in global health and participates actively in international discussions,” she said. “They are well-positioned to emerge as a regional leader in health funding and innovation.”
“The challenge now is to maintain our progress and bring to scale the innovations that work,” she said. “Qatar’s continued support—and the example it sets—will be crucial in ensuring that the world stays on track to end these diseases.”
As the Global Fund heads toward its next replenishment summit later this month, Morauta’s message from Doha is clear: sustained global solidarity, with partners like Qatar at the forefront, remains vital to saving millions of lives and strengthening health systems worldwide.
