WHO’s efforts to deal with pandemics

Context: 

Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pandemics are underway at the World Health Organization (WHO), with a target date of May 2024 for a legally binding agreement to be adopted by the U.N. health agency’s 194 member countries.

What is the pandemic treaty?

• The WHO already has binding rules known as the International Health Regulations, which in 2005 set out countries’ obligations where public health events have the potential to cross borders.
• Adopted after the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, these regulations are still considered appropriate for regional epidemics, such as Ebola but inadequate for a global pandemic. 
  • These regulations are also being reviewed in the wake of COVID-19.
• For the new more wide-reaching pandemic accord, member states have agreed that it should be legally binding for those who sign up.
• The pandemic treaty is expected to cover aspects like data sharing and genome sequencing of emerging viruses and equitable distribution of vaccines and drugs and related research throughout the world.
• In 2021, the World Health Assembly agreed to start a global process to draft the pandemic treaty. 

Article 19 of the WHO Constitution:

• Article 19 of the WHO Constitution gives the World Health Assembly the authority to adopt conventions or agreements on matters of health. 
• A two-third majority is needed to adopt such conventions or agreements.
• The WHO has established an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate the contents of the pandemic treaty in compliance with Article 19 of the WHO Constitution.

Need to draft the pandemic treaty:

• The need for an updated set of rules was felt after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the shortcomings of global health systems.
• Solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic have seen an inequitable distribution of vaccines so far, with poorer countries at the mercy of others to receive preventive medication. 
• Most countries have followed the “me-first” approach which is not an effective way to deal with a global pandemic.

News Source: Indian Express