World Health Organization (WHO) Member States conclude negotiations on draft Pandemic Agreement

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This draft proposal was finalized by Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which was established by World Health Assembly in 2021.

INB was tasked with drafting and negotiating a convention aimed at strengthening global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
It is now set to be submitted to the World Health Assembly in May for consideration.

About WHO Pandemic Agreement

Objective: To prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics.
Key provisions of Treaty:
- Pandemic prevention and surveillance: Conduct risk assessments of emerging pathogens.
- One Health approach: Recognizing interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
- Transfer of technology and related knowledge: Make available licenses on a transparent basis and for benefit of developing countries.
- Access and benefit sharing: Establish WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System.

Defences against new pathogens: E.g. Uncoordinated responses during COVID-19 showed need of a global framework.
Global collaboration: To ensure that all sectors of society are better prepared and protected.
Ensure equity: In access to tools needed to prevent pandemics e.g. vaccines, personal protective equipment etc.
Support Sustainable Finance: By mobilizing and allocating funding for preparedness, response, and health system strengthening.

Existing framework to deal with pandemic

International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005):
- Overarching legal framework that defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies.
- Members: Comprises all 194 WHO Member States plus Liechtenstein and the Holy See.
- IHR were first adopted in 1969 and focused on only six infectious diseases. They have been revised numerous times to eventually cover almost all trans-border public health risks (biological, chemical, radiological, etc).