Countries have reconvened this week in Geneva to intensify efforts toward finalizing a historic global agreement on pandemic preparedness, with recent health crises adding urgency to reach a deal.
The emergence of mpox, a deadly Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda, and recent H5N1 bird flu spillovers have underscored the need for a comprehensive framework on pandemic response.
The accord, in development since December 2021, was initially proposed by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 194 member states, following the devastation caused by COVID-19, which claimed millions of lives, crippled health systems, and left economies reeling.
After over two years of negotiations, optimism remains high for completing the agreement by November 15, although key aspects, including pathogen and vaccine sharing, remain unresolved.
"You face a balancing act between concluding your work in a timely manner and reaching the strongest possible text," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told delegates as negotiations resumed.
“I urge you not to let the perfect become the enemy of the good. Time is not on our side. COVID-19 is still circulating, mpox remains a global health emergency, we have a Marburg outbreak, and H5N1 spillovers. The next pandemic will not wait.”
The urgency was echoed by G20 health ministers who, meeting in Rio de Janeiro last week, called for an accord that is “ambitious, balanced, effective, and fit-for-purpose,” particularly in ensuring equitable access to medical resources in future pandemics.
Despite progress on many of the draft's 37 articles, major points of contention remain. At the heart of the debate is the equitable sharing of pathogens discovered within countries and the subsequent distribution of vaccines and treatments.
Wealthier nations with strong pharmaceutical sectors and developing countries that felt sidelined during COVID-19 have differing views on the structure of the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS).
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations has advocated for a “functional” pandemic agreement, but insists that “Intellectual property needs to be respected, and technology transfer must be voluntary and based on mutually agreed terms.”
Many developing nations, however, are calling for stronger guarantees. Malaysia, representing the Group for Equity, stressed the importance of real-time production sharing, suggesting that 20% of vaccines, tests, and treatments should be allocated to developing countries.
Tanzania, speaking on behalf of 48 African countries, reiterated that "We cannot accept an agreement that does not uphold equity."
Some countries voiced concerns over rushing the accord, with Eswatini cautioning against finalizing a document that “is not worth the paper it is written on.” Meanwhile, China emphasized the importance of quality, stating, “Quality should not be sacrificed for the sake of time.”
“Consensus is the magic bullet here,” Germany’s representative noted. “The final agreement needs to be palatable to all. We all have to consume it in the end.”
Negotiations continue as delegates aim to bridge these divides and achieve a framework capable of averting the severe inequities witnessed in past pandemics.
