UNITAID honours its founding Chair Dr Philippe Douste-Blazy for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the work of the organization.

Dr Philippe Douste-Blazy has stood down as Chair after 10 years. Celso Amorim, former Foreign Minister of Brazil, took over as the new Chair after a Board meeting in Paris yesterday.

“His vision in taking a political idea and converting it into concrete innovations that have proved their worth on the ground is indeed very commendable,” said Lelio Marmora, Executive Director, UNITAID.

During his 10-year tenure as Chair, Dr Philippe Douste-Blazy’s contribution to UNITAID was ground-breaking both in the way it raised funds and spent them in support  of innovative health solutions for those in need.

His vision contributed to the creation of the ‘air-ticket levy’, due to which UNITAID raised 63 per cent of it resources since 2006. Spurred by his leadership, the number of countries using the air ticket levy expanded from 3 countries in 2006, to 10 in 2016.

His tireless advocacy on behalf of the organization resulted in considerable successes, including a 60 per cent reduction in prices of second-line antiretrovirals, which got millions of people on treatment.