Norway has played a leading role in global health cooperation in recent decades. This must be continued, according to the commissioners. The Centre for Global Health's Crosscutting Theme leader for Health Economics, Lumbwe Chola, is a member of the new committee, chaired by Camilla Stoltenberg.
“I am excited to be part of this expert group and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the discussion”, says Lumbwe Chola.
The clients include seven relief and development organizations and think tanks: Red Cross, Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children, UNICEF Norway, Civita, the think tank Agenda and Langsikt.
The committee consists of eleven people, including Camilla Stoltenberg, CEO of the research institute NORCE and former director of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Stoltenberg will be joined by some of Norway's foremost experts in global health, health policy and international development.
"Global health is about solidarity and aid, but increasingly also about Norwegian security and self-interest. The pandemic was clear proof of this, and it must be reflected in how Norway invests in global health going forward," says Camilla Stoltenberg, committee chair.
For more than 25 years, Norway has been a driving force and key player in global health, and has contributed to the establishment of several international health-related mechanisms, initiatives and organizations, which have produced significant results. Since 2000, global child mortality has been halved.
The COVID-19 pandemic marked a step backwards. The pandemic, as well as increased geopolitical tension, nationalism and more visible climate change, has led several rich countries to cut funding for global health. In addition, poor countries have been hit by rising debt servicing costs.
The expert committee's mandate is to describe the greatest challenges and opportunities in global health up to 2050, and how Norway can best contribute internationally, both financially and politically. They will take into account both global development and Norway's own interests. As part of the assignment, the committee will assess what Norway is best placed to contribute.
Norway has played a leading role in global health for decades. It has contributed to historic progress. According to the commissioners, now is not the time to reduce efforts, but on the contrary to strengthen investments in global health so that everyone in the world can enjoy their basic health rights.
The committee will present a report at the end of October 2024.
The Committee:
- Camilla Stoltenberg, konsernsjef i forskningsinstituttet NORCE
- Bent Høie, statsforvalter i Rogaland
- John-Arne Røttingen, CEO i Wellcome Trust
- Karoline M. Linde, CEO i Laerdal Global Health
- Ole Frithjof Norheim, professor ved Institutt for global helse og samfunnsmedisin ved UiB, og leder for BCEPS
- Anne-Marie Helland, direktør for Internasjonal utvikling i PwC
- Lumbwe Chola, førsteamanuensis ved avdeling for helseledelse og helseøkonomi ved UiO
- Usman A. Mushtaq, lege og tidligere helsebyråd i Oslo
- Amanda Hylland Spjældnes, medisinstudent og leder av Norsk Folkehjelp Solidaritetsungdom
- Ottar Mæstad, direktør for Development Learning Lab (DLL) ved CMI
- Trygve Ottersen, fungerende assisterende direktør i Direktoratet for medisinske produkter (DMP) og førsteamanuensis ved avdeling for samfunnsmedisin og global helse ved UiO
Lumbwe Chola | Associate Professor - Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo