• UGI USER
  • Mar 29, 2024
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THE COUNTDOWN TO A PANDEMIC TREATY

Syllabus:

  • GS 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India
  • GS 3  : Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Focus:

The article highlights an unprecedented call in March 2021 by 25 heads of government and international agencies for a pandemic treaty, signaling a pivotal moment in global health governance.

Historical Call for a Pandemic Treaty

  • Unprecedented Call in March 2021:
  • 25 heads of government and international agencies called for a pandemic treaty.
  • Signalled a pivotal moment in global health governance.
  • Ninth INB Meeting:
  • Final leg of negotiations for the 30-page WHO Pandemic Agreement.
  • Began on March 18, marking a significant milestone.
  • World Health Assembly Decision:
Source: EU
  • Meeting in late May to decide the fate of the Pandemic Agreement.
  • Risk of collapse due to contentious debates among member states.
  • Comparative Significance:
  • Most momentous time in global health since 1948.
  • Highlights the urgency and importance of the proposed treaty.

Objective and Scope of the WHO Pandemic Agreement

  • Addressing Systemic Failures:
  • Aim to rectify failures revealed by the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Strengthen global defenses against future pandemics.
  • Equity as Central Theme:
  • Goal of strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response with equity.
  • Addressing searing inequity witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Key Focus Areas:
  • Pathogen surveillance, health-care workforce capacity, supply chain, and logistics.
  • Technology transfer to support vaccine, diagnostic test, and treatment production.
  • Additional Commitments:
  • Better management of antimicrobial resistance.
  • Strengthening health systems, sanitation, and progress towards universal health coverage.
  • Emphasis on Equitable Access:
  • Throughout the text, the theme of equitable access to medical products is highlighted.
  • Provisions on principles, preparedness, production, technology transfer, and supply and procurement reflect this emphasis.
World Health Organization (WHO)

·    Founded in 1948 as the UN’s specialized health agency.

·    Headquarters located in Geneva, Switzerland.

·    Comprises 194 Member States, 150 country offices, and six regional offices.

·    Operates as an inter-governmental organization, collaborating with member states, primarily through Ministries of Health.

·    Leads global health initiatives, sets health norms, provides technical support, and monitors health trends.

·    World Health Day celebrated annually on April 7, marking its inception.

Objectives of WHO

·    Serve as the directing and coordinating authority for international health work.

·    Foster collaboration with UN agencies, governmental health bodies, and professional groups.

·    Provide assistance to governments in enhancing health services.

·    Promote cooperation among scientific and professional entities advancing health.

 Governance Structure

·    World Health Assembly (WHA): WHO’s main decision-making body attended by all member states’ delegations.

·    Annual sessions held at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

·    Focuses on specific health agendas set by the Executive Board.

·    2022 marked the first in-person assembly since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Functions of the Health Assembly

·    Determines WHO’s organizational policies.

·    Oversees financial policies and approves the budget.

·    Reports to the UN’s Economic and Social Council as per the agreement between WHO and the UN.

Membership Criteria

·    UN Member States eligible for WHO membership.

·    Territories or groups not responsible for international relations can be Associate Members upon Health Assembly approval.

Contentious Issues and Concerns

  • Pathogen Sharing and Benefit-Sharing:
  • Developing countries hesitant to share pathogen information without clear benefits.
  • Proposed WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System to address concerns.
  • Requires data sharing in exchange for free or discounted medical products.
  • Enforcement and Accountability:
  • Absence of robust enforcement mechanisms and accountability threatens Agreement’s effectiveness.
  • Challenges include coordination for pandemic countermeasure stockpiles, international medical response teams, and data sharing.
  • Intellectual Property (IP) Waivers:
  • Controversial issue requiring firms with public financing to waive or reduce IP royalties.
  • A major point of contention between developed and developing countries.
  • Conference of Parties (COP) Establishment:
  • Proposed to oversee Agreement implementation.
  • Indicates potential classification as a classic international treaty under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution.
  • Negotiation Disparities:
  • Developing countries largely support the revised text, while developed countries criticize it.
  • Disagreements on financing, obligations, and responsibilities persist.

Next Steps and Challenges Ahead

  • Geneva Negotiation Conclusion:
  • Current round of negotiations aims for a consensus decision by the World Health Assembly.
  • Risk of a watered-down Agreement due to the imperative of consensus.
  • Potential Outcomes:
  • Successful Agreement would be a critical step towards rebuilding trust and coordination between nations.
  • Failure to reach Agreement would be a serious blow, acknowledging the necessity of international collaboration.
  • UNFCCC Summit Model:
  • Proposals for a decision-making body, comprising the COP along with a secretariat.
  • Uncertainty remains regarding the consensus on this structure.
  • Enforcement Challenges:
  • Existing International Health Regulations are legally binding but failed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Need for robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure effectiveness and accountability.
  • Intellectual Property (IP) Challenges:
  • Thorny issue of firms receiving public financing being required to waive or reduce their IP royalties.
  • Represents a significant barrier to achieving global equity in vaccine and treatment access.

Way Forward:

  1. Strengthen Equity Measures: Enhance the WHO PABS System for equitable pathogen and benefit sharing.
  2. Implement Strong Enforcement: Introduce robust accountability frameworks for Agreement compliance.
  3. Resolve IP Issues: Address intellectual property challenges through balanced solutions.
  4. Encourage Global Collaboration: Foster international cooperation to share best practices and resources.
  5. Invest in Health Systems: Prioritize investments for health system strengthening and universal coverage.
  6. Engage All Stakeholders: Foster inclusive dialogue with governments, industry, and civil society.
  7. Monitor Progress: Establish a monitoring framework to track and adapt to progress and challenges.
  8. Ensure Transparency: Promote transparency in negotiations and decision-making processes.

Conclusion

The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a crucial initiative to address the systemic failures exposed by the COVID-19 crisis and strengthen global health governance. As negotiations reach a critical stage, the challenges of equity, enforcement, and intellectual property rights continue to be major sticking points. Achieving a consensus decision by the World Health Assembly in May is essential to establish a robust and effective global framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

Source:

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-countdown-to-a-pandemic-treaty/article68003170.ece/amp/

Mains Practice Question:

Discuss the significance and challenges associated with the proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement, highlighting its potential implications for global health governance.