International Treaty to Prevent Future Pandemics

In March 2021, during the peak of the Covid pandemic, over 20 countries and international organizations advocated for a treaty aimed at safeguarding the world from future health crises. By December, the World Health Organization (WHO) members formed an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft this treaty.

Key Challenges in Negotiations

• Scientific Information Exchange: Developed countries demanded immediate access to scientific data.
• Equitable Allocation of Resources: Countries from the Global South linked data sharing to the equitable distribution of vaccines and drugs, citing the skewed distribution against low and middle-income countries (LMIC) during Covid.

Treaty Outcomes

The negotiations, although slow and challenging, led to the creation of the WHO’s Draft Pandemic Treaty, set for presentation at the World Health Assembly on May 19.

The treaty's focus is on the “One Health” approach, connecting human health with ecological developments. It emphasizes:

• Identifying and mitigating risks of pathogen transmission from animals to humans.
• Prioritizing countries that share pathogen data in accessing developed diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics.
• Addressing intellectual property issues by emphasizing public interest, inspired by difficulties faced during the Covid pandemic with drug and vaccine manufacturers.

Limitations and Progress

Despite its advancements, the treaty lacks an enforcement mechanism. Initially, the US was involved in the discussions, but the final text was completed without its participation. However, the ratification by 191 countries demonstrates a significant multilateral achievement and signals WHO's recovery from past challenges, notably the US withdrawal from the organization.