WHO Pandemic Agreement: The countdown to a pandemic treaty

Source: The post WHO Pandemic Agreement has been created, based on the article “The countdown to a pandemic treaty” published in “The Hindu” on 29th March 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-International relations- Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.

News: The article discusses negotiations for a WHO Pandemic Agreement. This agreement aims to improve global response to pandemics, focusing on fair access to medical resources and stronger health systems. WHO Pandemic Agreement

What is WHO Pandemic Agreement?

In March 2021, 25 world leaders called for a pandemic treaty, leading to the WHO Pandemic Agreement. This agreement, discussed in the ninth Intergovernmental Negotiating Body meeting, aims to improve global pandemic response.

It includes pathogen surveillance, enhancing healthcare systems, equitable access to medical resources, and intellectual property rights waivers.

As the final draft approaches approval at the World Health Assembly, its success remains uncertain amid significant debate.

What are the key features of WHO Pandemic Agreement?

Strengthening Global Defenses: The agreement focuses on improving the global response to pandemics, learning from COVID-19’s challenges.

Equity in Access: A primary goal is to ensure equitable access to medical resources like vaccines and treatments.

Pathogen Surveillance: Includes measures for better tracking and reporting of pathogens with pandemic potential.

Healthcare Workforce and Systems: Aims to build stronger healthcare workforces and systems worldwide.

Supply Chain Management: Addresses logistics and supply chain improvements for medical supplies.

Technology Transfer: Encourages the transfer of technology to aid in producing vaccines and tests.

Intellectual Property Waivers: Discusses waivers for intellectual property rights to facilitate wider access to medical innovations.

Antimicrobial Resistance: Plans to tackle the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance.

What are the concerns related to WHO Pandemic Agreement?

Disagreement Between Countries: Developed countries have criticized the latest draft, especially on financing and intellectual property issues, while developing countries are more supportive.

Intellectual Property Rights: The proposal for firms with public funding to reduce or waive IP royalties is highly contentious.

Equitable Access and Sharing: Developing countries are reluctant to share pathogen data without clear benefits, highlighting disparities seen in the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Enforcement and Accountability: There are concerns about the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms within the agreement.

Pathogen Sharing Mechanism: The proposed WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System aims for fair data sharing but faces challenges in implementation.

Conclusion

Negotiations are ongoing, aiming for a consensus by the World Health Assembly in May. There’s a risk of a diluted agreement due to differing viewpoints, but not reaching one could significantly impact global pandemic preparedness.

Question for practice:

Examine the key features and concerns surrounding the WHO Pandemic Agreement.