EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : The global struggle for a pandemic treaty
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: The Hindu
• Prelims: Current events of national importance, Government policies, Covid-19, pandemic treaty).
• Mains GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementations, Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
• Over two years of political negotiations, 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to finalize a historic Pandemic Agreement.
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Pandemic:
• According to the WHO, a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world beyond expectations.
Epidemic:
• An epidemic is a large outbreak, one that spreads among a population or region.
• It is less severe than pandemic due to a limited area of spread.
What is the pandemic treaty?
• It is an international treaty designed to fortify global pandemic preparedness, implement mechanisms for prevention of the same Reduce unconscionable inequities that were painfully obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Reduce unconscionable inequities that were painfully obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The pandemic treaty covers aspects like: Data sharing and genome sequencing of emerging viruses Equitable distribution of vaccines and drugs Related research throughout the world.
• Data sharing and genome sequencing of emerging viruses
• Equitable distribution of vaccines and drugs
• Related research throughout the world.
Importance of Global Pandemic Treaty:
• Build coherence and avoid fragmentation: A treaty under the umbrella of WHO would build coherence and avoid fragmentation.
• Early warning system*: *It will formally commit governments and parliaments to implement an early warning system and a properly funded rapid response mechanism.
• Common metrics for health investment*: *It will mobilize nation states to agree on a set of common metrics that are related to health investments and a return on those investments. These investments should aim to reduce the public-private sector gap
• These investments should aim to reduce the public-private sector gap
Developments in the 77th World Health Assembly(WHA):
• It agreed on a package of amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, drawn from 300 proposals for reform by governments of both the global north and south, and extensively negotiated over the last two years. The IHR amendments aim: To enhance the ability of countries to prepare for and respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) Introduce a new category for urgent international response — a Pandemic Emergency (PE). Ensure equitable access to health products during health emergencies To mobilize financial resources to support developing countries in building and maintaining core health system capacities required under the IHR. The amendments emphasize solidarity and equity, while mandating the creation of a National IHR Authority for better coordination.
• The IHR amendments aim: To enhance the ability of countries to prepare for and respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) Introduce a new category for urgent international response — a Pandemic Emergency (PE). Ensure equitable access to health products during health emergencies To mobilize financial resources to support developing countries in building and maintaining core health system capacities required under the IHR.
• To enhance the ability of countries to prepare for and respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC)
• Introduce a new category for urgent international response — a Pandemic Emergency (PE).
• Ensure equitable access to health products during health emergencies
• To mobilize financial resources to support developing countries in building and maintaining core health system capacities required under the IHR.
• The amendments emphasize solidarity and equity, while mandating the creation of a National IHR Authority for better coordination.
• The 77th WHA extended the mandate of the Pandemic Treaty negotiating body, namely: The intergovernmental negotiating body (INB). The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement must be completed as soon as possible.
• The intergovernmental negotiating body (INB).
• The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement must be completed as soon as possible.
Technology transfer and intellectual property:
#### ● Intellectual property protections, rich-world hoarding, export restrictions, and manufacturing limitations contributed to vaccine inequity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
#### ● The transfer of technology: Strong provisions for technology transfers and local production could potentially compensate for the failures in PABS negotiations.
#### ● Technology transfer and intellectual property waivers are needed to ensure diverse manufacturing capacities globally so that LMICs are no longer reliant on “charity” from high-income countries and can maintain self-sufficiency.
#### ● Governance of production and technology transfer(article 10 and 11): and its implications on intellectual property: has significantly delayed negotiations.
#### ○ Issue: The conditions for technology transfer to “facilitate sustainable and geographically diversified production” through mechanisms such as
#### ■ Product information sharing and use of WTO- Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) flexibilities such as compulsory licensing.
#### ■ Lack of consensus on the transfer of ‘know-how’ and the binding nature of these transfers.
#### ■ High-income countries advocate for Voluntary and Mutually Agreed Terms (VMAT): Use of VMAT language could discourage countries, particularly LMICs
#### ■ from adopting mandatory approaches recognised under the TRIPS Agreement.
#### ● ‘Peace clause’: It requires member states to respect the use of the TRIPS flexibilities and not exercise any direct or indirect pressure to discourage the use of such flexibilities.
Way Forward.
• Skilled diplomats and political leaders must understand that international cooperation and mutual solidarity are a win-win for global health security.
• The draft Agreement requires member states to adopt a pandemic preparedness and surveillance approach Which recognises the interconnection between the health of people, animals, and the environment Promotes a coherent, integrated, coordinated, and collaborative effort among all relevant organizations, sectors, and actors, as appropriate.
• Which recognises the interconnection between the health of people, animals, and the environment
• Promotes a coherent, integrated, coordinated, and collaborative effort among all relevant organizations, sectors, and actors, as appropriate.
• High-income countries, particularly the European Union, strongly support One Health. LMICs view it as an unfunded mandate that imposes an additional burden on their already strained resources.
• LMICs view it as an unfunded mandate that imposes an additional burden on their already strained resources.
• The lack of real accountability in International Health Regulations (IHR), implementation of the Pandemic Agreement remains a critical concern. The proposed Conference of Parties (COP) will play a crucial role in this regard by taking stock of its implementation and reviewing its functioning every five years.
• The proposed Conference of Parties (COP) will play a crucial role in this regard by taking stock of its implementation and reviewing its functioning every five years.
• The latest draft of the agreement has proposed the COP to consider establishing an inclusive, transparent, and effective monitoring and evaluation system, in a manner consistent with the IHR.
• The treaty should ensure the immediate availability of medical products during emergencies It should promote long-term and sustainable access to these products by diversifying production and enhancing regional manufacturing capabilities.
• It should promote long-term and sustainable access to these products by diversifying production and enhancing regional manufacturing capabilities.
• Issues of pathogen access and technology transfer are not mere technicalities They are essential to the success of the pandemic agreement once it is adopted.
• They are essential to the success of the pandemic agreement once it is adopted.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the COVID-19 Pandemic.(UPSC 2020) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)