The countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) have begun negotiations on a global agreement to protect nations in the event of a future pandemic or global health disaster. The “Pandemic Accord” created will include all 194 nations that are members of the WHO, as they share the collective aim to prevent future health disasters.
A timetable created by the World Health Assembly states that negotiations will continue over the next year. Mr. Roland Driece, Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) Bureau from the Netherlands, stated that the overwhelming support from members of the WHO serves as a signal that nations want to work together to preserve their futures. “The efforts this week by countries from around the world were a critical step in ensuring we do not repeat the mistakes of the COVID-19 pandemic response, including in sharing life-saving vaccines, providing information, and developing local capacities,” stated Ms. Precious Matsoso, INB Bureau chair of South Africa. The “Pandemic Accord” will ensure that each member of the WHO is equitably prepared for possible future health disasters.
The next INB Bureau meeting is in early April; negotiations will continue then as nations seek to input their thoughts in the development of the first draft of the “Pandemic Accord.” A final draft will likely be produced by the 77th World Health Assembly in 2024. Senior diplomats from Israel and Morocco who will be serving as co-facilitators of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response have briefed the INB on their preparations for the upcoming meeting. This is done in part to ensure collaboration and ease the negotiation process among nations.
Aside from the “Pandemic Accord” draft, the WHO is discussing over 300 amendments to the International Health Regulations that were put in place in 2005. These amendments aim to prevent communicable diseases and ensure equity in global health responses. The WHO is working towards creating consistency between the INB and International Health Regulations (IHR) amendments. Amendments to the IHR will likely be presented at the 2024 World Health Assembly. According to the WHO, the IHR amendments would create a “pandemic accord” that “provide[s] a comprehensive, complementary, and synergistic set of global health agreements.”
By Justin Goldberg