Stocks to watch as the UK invests in the fight against deadly diseases

Highlights

• The UK will contribute again towards the Global Fund for combating AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
• As a founding sponsor of the Global Fund, the UK is its third biggest contributor.
• Over the course of 3 years, the UK is channelising funds worth £1 billion towards the Global Fund.

On Monday, Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell announced the UK is putting money in the Global Fund again to support the battle against three of the most lethal diseases globally. The new UK aid would assist in combating AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Since the Global Fund launched, the UK has donated £4.4 billion. As a founding sponsor of the Global Fund, the country is its third biggest contributor. Since the setting up the fund in 2002 by the G7, it has saved about 50 million lives worldwide.

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Last year, the Global Fund offered lifesaving antiretroviral treatment for HIV to nearly 23 million people and TB medication and support to over 5 million people. The fund also supported the treatment of 148 million people suffering from malaria and assisted in supplying 133 million mosquito nets to shield households from malaria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjt2r2FC3F0&t=10s

Over the course of 3 years, the UK is channelising funds worth £1 billion towards the Global Fund. This money would potentially aid in saving over a million lives across the globe. Amid these developments, UK investors can keep an eye on the following healthcare stocks trading on the London Stock Exchange.

AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN)

The returns of the UK-based FTSE100-listed biopharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca plc, stood at 22.78% and 24.52% on a one-year and YTD (year to date) basis, respectively, as of Monday. After closing at GBX 10,598.00 on Friday, AZN shares were up on Monday afternoon at around 12:30 PM (GMT), trading at GBX 10,802.00 while experiencing a hike of 1.93%. Having a market capitalisation of £164,217.78 million at the time of writing, the firm’s EPS (earning per share) stood at 0.08, and it had a turnover of £41,106,503.20.

Mediclinic International plc (LON: MDC)

The returns of the FTSE250-listed globally operating private hospitals group, Mediclinic International plc, stood at 48.68% and 54.43% on a one-year and YTD basis, respectively, as of Monday. After closing at GBX 492.60 on Friday, MDC shares were up on Monday afternoon at around 12:30 PM (GMT), trading at GBX 494.80 while experiencing a hike of 0.45%. Having a market capitalisation of £3,631.66 million at the time of writing, the firm’s EPS stood at 0.09, and it had a turnover of £679,029.47.

Indivior plc (LON: INDV)

The returns of the UK-based FTSe250-listed speciality pharmaceuticals company, Indivior plc, stood at 43.72% and 29.85% on a one-year and YTD basis, respectively, as of Monday. After closing at GBX 1,654.00 on Friday, INDV shares were up on Monday afternoon at around 12:30 PM (GMT), trading at GBX 1,667.00 while experiencing a hike of 0.79%. Having a market capitalisation of £2,266.59 million at the time of writing, the firm’s EPS stood at 1.40, and it had a turnover of £609,863.87.