In order to negotiate a deal to safeguard countries and populations against upcoming pandemic events, countries affiliated with the World Health Organization have started discussions on a worldwide agreement on pandemic prevention, readiness, and response.
The Intergovernmental Negotiation Board (INB), which consists of the 194 WHO member nations, held its fourth meeting this week, which ended on Friday, and deliberations on the draft pandemic pact were ongoing. According to a schedule established by the World Health Assembly, discussions on the draft will go on over the following year.
It was reported that Mr Roland Driece, Co-Chair of the INB Bureau, from the Netherlands, stated that the beginning of discussions on specific language for the WHO pandemic accord indicates that the countries of the world intend to collaborate towards a safer and healthier future. According to him, this would involve better preparation to prevent future pandemic threats, as well as the ability to respond to them effectively and equitably.
Ms Precious Matsoso, a Co-Chair of the INB Bureau from South Africa, mentioned that the endeavors made during the week by countries from all over the world were crucial in preventing the repetition of mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic response. She emphasized the importance of sharing life-saving vaccines, providing information, and developing local capacities to achieve this goal.
According to Ms Matsoso’s statement, it was noted that the ability to make significant progress is evidence of the worldwide agreement regarding the importance of collaborating and improving the abilities of both the WHO and the international community to safeguard the world from pandemic threats.
At the INB’s upcoming meeting, scheduled for April 3–6, WHO Member States will continue discussions on the pandemic accord’s zero draft in order to gather all the information required to create the first draft.
Negotiations on the draft pandemic accord will attempt to create a final document for consideration by the 77th World Health Assembly in 2024, in accordance with the procedure agreed upon by nations at a special session of the World Health Assembly in late 2021.
It was reported that the senior diplomats from Israel and Morocco, who are co-facilitators of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response, briefed the INB on their preparations for the meeting that is scheduled to take place on 20 September. The purpose of the briefing was to guarantee collaboration between the processes.
Governments are engaged in talks concerning over 300 changes to the International Health Regulations (2005) in addition to pandemic accord negotiations. These discussions aim to enhance global readiness for contagious illnesses and promote fairness in the global response to public health crises.
To create a comprehensive and synergistic set of global health agreements, governments are striving for consistency and alignment between the INB and IHR processes. The suggested amendments to the IHR will be presented to the World Health Assembly in 2024, along with a forthcoming pandemic accord. Together, these agreements will offer a complementary and comprehensive approach to global health.
