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Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General; Chair of the Executive Board, UNITAID

Dr. Douste-Blazy’s unparalleled experience in medicine, administration, politics and international affairs brings broad experience and leadership to the ICAV Board. Doctor, researcher and politician, Dr. Douste-Blazy has held numerous esteemed positions in France, from head of the Centre hospitalier regional de Toulouse to the Secretary-General of the UMP. Dr. Douste-Blazy has held many elected offices, including Member of European Parliament, Mayor of Toulouse, and Deputy of the National Assembly of France. Dr. Douste-Blazy was Minister of Health and Social Protection from May 2004 to June 2005 and Minister of Foreign Affairs from June 2005 to May 2007. Dr. Douste-Blazy served as a Special Advisor to the President of France, Nikolas Sarkozy until May, 2008.

Dr. Douste-Blazy is currently chair of the UNITAID Executive Board, an innovative financing facility for global health that he was instrumental in developing. UNITAID finances access to medication for citizens in developing countries through taxes on air travel and other durable funding mechanisms. The organization has so far raised $500 million in stable funding. Dr. Douste-Blazy was recently appointed a Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for Innovative Financing for Development, with the rank of Undersecretary-General of the UN.