AIDS, TB, malaria: South Korean Airline tax will contribute

The ministry of health for South Korea is to contribute US$6 million (RM19.2 million) to the Global Fund for 2014-2016, and the foreign ministry is to pay US$10 million in five annual instalments from

The ministry of health for South Korea is to contribute US$6 million (RM19.2 million) to the Global Fund for 2014-2016, and the foreign ministry is to pay US$10 million in five annual instalments from 2013-2017, drawn from a levy on all passengers leaving South Korea on international flights.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced yesterday that it had received a major boost from South Korea thanks to a levy on airline tickets.

The Geneva-based body, which is backed by governments and private donors such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, said South Korea was to double its contribution over the next three years.

South Korea’s 1,000 won (RM3) levy, known as the โ€œGlobal Poverty Eradication Taxโ€, was introduced in 2007, primarily to contribute financial resources to fight poverty and disease in impoverished countries.

โ€œThe Republic of Korea is a trend-setter in the use of innovative funding methods to help fight the three diseases,โ€ said Mark Dybul, head of the Global Fund, in a statement.

โ€œIn doubling its contribution, Korea is also leading the way for other G20 countries to follow,โ€ he added.

South Korea has contributed US$19 million since it started supporting the Global Fund in 2004, of which US$6 million was pledged for 2011-2013.

The idea of imposing such a levy first came from French organisation Unitaid, which said it has collected US$1.06 billion at the end of 2011.

The Global Fund focuses on developing nations, including South Korea’s hermetic neighbour North Korea.

Global Fund grants to North Korea totalling US$67 million have since 2010 funded the diagnosis and treatment of 120,000 cases of tuberculosis and the distribution of 710,000 mosquito nets to ward off malaria.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...