A WHO-Managed Financial Mechanism to Address Equity In Health Emergency Preparedness And Response: A Realistic Opportunity?

Newsletter Edition #23 [Treaty Talks]

Hi,

Today we are bring you an analysis of a proposed financial mechanism, in the context of the amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005). The working group on the IHR amendments meets next week in Geneva.

While addressing financing issues are key for future compliance and strengthening of health systems, these aspects have not yet been addressed substantively in the current negotiations yet. Some developing countries have proposed a new article on financing. There is some reluctance among countries and other stakeholders on entrusting financing matters with the WHO.

Our analysis today by my colleague Tessa Jager, looks at the proposed amendment more closely and what it could mean for preparedness and response to health emergencies. Tessa is a Geneva-based lawyer with a passion for exploring innovative (legal) perspectives on contemporary global health issues.

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Until later.

Best,

Priti

Feel free to write to us: patnaik.reporting@gmail.com or genevahealthfiles@protonmail.com; Follow us on Twitter: @filesgeneva

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I. STORY OF THE WEEK

A WHO-Managed Financial Mechanism to Address Equity In Health Emergency Preparedness And Response: A Realistic Opportunity?

The proposed Article 44A of the Amendments to the IHR

By Tessa Jager

Tessa Jager

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Some developing countries have proposed a dedicated WHO-managed financial mechanism to improve equity. But can it work? We take a look.

From the 17^th – the 20^th of April, the Third Session of the Working Group of Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) is due to consider the proposed Financial Mechanism for Equity in Health Emergency Preparedness and Response. The mechanism, as presented by the African group, aims to equate countries' capabilities to build surveillance mechanisms by providing financial assistance.

Text of the proposed New Article 44A

Strengthening national surveillance mechanisms fits within the vein of WHO's catchphrase “no one is safe until everyone is safe”. For cross-border threats that pose an approximately identical health hazard to everyone irrespective of their location, any inconsistency in infectious disease control renders the whole global surveillance mechanism fruitless in an exponential manner, according to WHO’s Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.[1]

Image Credit: Photo by Andre William, Pexels