Pandemic Governance: November Round Up
Spark Street Advisors
Bringing together evidence and excellence in analytic thinking in public health
Greetings from Spark Street Advisors,
Ahead of the resumed 7th Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB7) meeting next week, we're sharing?our latest pandemic agreement update.
Latest developments
In the first part of the INB7 in November, World Health Organization Member States began?discussing the draft agreement for a #PandemicAccord. The opening session confirmed tensions over non-exclusive licensing and intellectual property (IP) that will likely remain sticky issues and reflect the North-South divide. Equity continued to be a focus, with Equity & Africa Groups highlighting disparities and calling for "common but differentiated responsibilities." Emphasis was also on requests for more results-focused, binding, and actionable language, as well as being explicit on gender and human rights. More here.
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Between the INB7 meetings, WHO Member States are discussing specific Articles of the negotiating text in informal subgroups. The INB will likely release an updated draft text after the December INB7. With less than half a year left before the May 2024 deadline, Member States are pressed for time.?Accountability remains a weakness in the current draft. In our recent analysis in The Lancet Group Global Health, we argue the pandemic agreement should commit to?specific language on independent monitoring now. Independent monitoring is?feasible, viable, and achievable, and could complement state self-reporting and peer review mechanisms already provided for in the current negotiating draft.
For more details on the proposal, please?check our recent report and policy brief?published with the United Nations University - IIGH . Read also our joint letter to WHO Member States, developed together with the?Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness, the Panel for a Global Public Health Convention , the Pandemic Action Network , and co-signed by Rt. Hon. Helen Clark , H.E. Ellen Johnson?Sirleaf, Mary Robinson, Gro Harlem Brundtland, and others.
Keeping up with reforms:?
There was a lot of movement in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in 2023. We're tracking discussions because we know it can be tough to keep up.?