Challenges in Adopting Global Pandemic Agreement

Source-This post on Challenges in Adopting Global Pandemic Agreement has been created based on the article “The global struggle for a pandemic treaty” published in “The Hindu” on 1 August 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-2- Important International Institutions and Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context– Intellectual property protections, hoarding by wealthy nations, export restrictions, and manufacturing limits worsened vaccine inequity during COVID-19. Despite two years of negotiations, 194 WHO member states failed to finalize the Pandemic Agreement, which was designed to enhance pandemic preparedness and address inequities revealed by COVID-19.

Recently, 77th World Health Assembly (May 27-June 1, 2024) took place in Geneva where two significant advancements in global health governance were made.

 What were the key developments at the 77th World Health Assembly?

1) Amendments to the International Health Regulations -The Assembly approved amendments to the 2005 International Health Regulations (IHR). These changes aim to boost preparedness for health emergencies, add a new “Pandemic Emergency” category, ensure fair access to health products, support developing countries, and establish a National IHR Authority for improved coordination.

2) Completion of WHO Pandemic Agreement -The mandate of the intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) for the Pandemic Treaty was extended, requiring the WHO Pandemic Agreement to be finished quickly.

What are the challenges in adopting the Pandemic Agreement?

1) Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS): The proposal aims to address inequities in treatment access and vaccine distribution by requiring manufacturers to donate a portion of their products to WHO for global distribution. However, there is disagreement on donation percentages, with LMICs(Low- and middle-income countries) pushing for at least 20% and high-income countries not agreeing to it.

2) Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property- Disagreements over production governance, technology transfer, and intellectual property rights, particularly around TRIPS flexibilities and the ‘peace clause,’ have stalled negotiations.

3) One Health Approach: This approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health, is supported by high-income countries but seen by low- and middle-income countries as an additional burden without sufficient funding.

4) Enforcement and Implementation- The lack of a robust compliance mechanism and accountability in the International Health Regulations (IHR) raises significant concerns about the implementation of the Pandemic Agreement.

Read More- WHO Pandemic Agreement: The countdown to a pandemic treaty

What should be the way forward?

1) Collaboration for Global Health Security -Diplomats and leaders should recognize that working together and supporting each other benefits global health security.

2) Technology Transfer and IP Waivers -Technology transfer and intellectual property waivers should be implemented to build diverse global manufacturing capabilities. This will allow LMICs to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on aid from high-income countries.

Question for practice

What are the impediments to the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement, and what strategies should be employed to address these challenges?