Pandemic Treaty Negotiations to Continue Despite Missed Deadline, WHO Reports Some Progress

Despite missing the deadline, negotiations for a pandemic treaty will persist. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports some progress, underscoring ongoing efforts despite setbacks. Stay informed on developments as global health authorities navigate the complexities of international cooperation in pandemic response and prevention.

LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - Discussions aimed at formulating a worldwide agreement to combat future pandemics concluded without a draft agreement by the anticipated deadline, although the World Health Organization indicated progress. Negotiators representing the WHO's 194 member states aimed to finalize a binding text by Friday's end, intending adoption at the upcoming World Health Assembly.

However, they failed to meet the deadline and will now extend negotiations in the weeks leading up to the assembly, as stated by the WHO, the host of the member-state-led discussions, on Friday evening. Precious Matsoso, the co-chair of the intergovernmental negotiating body, emphasized the complexity of the task, emphasizing the importance of accuracy. The objective of the documnt, in conjunction with revisions to current pandemic management protocols, is to strengthen global defenses against emerging pathogens following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed millions of lives.

However, significant disagreements have surfaced during the negotiation phase, particularly concerning equity, and experts noted that the timeline for reaching an agreement was consistently ambitious. Moreover, the accord has been politicized in certain countries, further complicating the process.

VACCINE SHARING

Several contentious aspects of the treaty, notably concerning a "pathogen access and benefits system," have been deferred for future deliberation, with a two-year deadline set. This system aims to formalize the sharing of materials with pandemic potential, like new viruses or strains, and guarantee equitable distribution of vaccines, medications, and tests developed as a consequence.

In the current draft treaty, there's a provision requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to set aside 10% of such items for donation to the WHO and another 10% for the agency to purchase at affordable prices for distribution in low-income countries during health crises. A recent report in Britain's Telegraph newspaper suggested that the UK would refuse to sign a treaty that it believes would compel it to donate a fifth of its vaccines.

An official participating in the discussions mentioned that while many countries support the idea of ensuring fair vaccine access, a specific percentage has not been finalized. The current agreement governing pandemic influenza includes a provision for selling vaccines at affordable prices or donating them to the WHO, allowing for flexibility with percentages ranging from 5% to 20%. This framework would be utilized if the H5N1 strain of avian flu, recently detected in cows in the United States and other animals and birds, becomes easily transmissible between humans. Presently, the WHO assesses this threat as low, given the absence of evidence of human-to-human transmission.

External experts warned that prolonged delays in the pandemic treaty negotiations, especially during election years in many countries, could risk losing political momentum. However, they emphasized that pursuing the treaty was still crucial. Michelle Childs, Director of Policy Advocacy at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), highlighted that certain proposals on the table could significantly impact global health positively. Similarly, Alexandra Phelan, a global health law expert at Johns Hopkins University, suggested that global health and security could be even more vulnerable if the treaty fails than if the negotiation process had never commenced.

Source: Reuters