Geneva Health Files April-June 2024 [The GHF WRAP]
The Q2 2024 Roundup from Geneva Health Files
Dear Readers,
Presenting to you three intense months in a single edition!
We share a wrap of over 35 editions, including a series of exclusive stories, guest essays, interviews, podcasts from the second quarter of 2024 between April and June. They capture the ups and downs, the twists and turns in the endless unfolding story of Global Health in Geneva.
My colleague Sana Ali has compiled this for you.
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Highlights: April-June 2024
Compiled by Sana Ali
I. Treaty Talks
[June 2] WHO Member States Score a Win on IHR and for Multilateralism, Bag More Time to Conclude Pandemic Agreement
The long drawn out negotiations on the amendments to the International Health Regulations had all the characteristics of a great Test Match in Cricket. Slow but steady, and suddenly gets all exciting with a flourishing win. And what a win! This desperate race to conclude was not only against time, but also against a fast-eroding trust in multilateralism, deeply fractured by the pandemic and the subsequent ongoing wars that have redrawn geopolitics. Global health is now illustrative of what multilateralism can achieve, when enabled by great leadership, and persistence by countries
[May 25] Chaotic Process & Politics Affect Pandemic Agreement Negotiations at WHO As Countries Struggle to Reach Consensus, Could Risk IHR Process
Chaos, uncertainty and gloom, hung over the discussions towards a Pandemic Agreement as the final evening of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body drew to a close on May 24th. Countries are heading into the 77th World Health Assembly without adequate clarity on the next steps as the mandates of both processes - the INB to establish a Pandemic Agreement, and the Working Group to amend the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) come to a conclusion this month.
[May 29] Crunch Time: Countries Determined to Adopt Amendments to the IHR, Divided on the Way Ahead to Conclude Pandemic Agreement
In a unified voice, WHO member states struck a determined note to continue making efforts to improve Pandemic Prevention Preparedness Response at the ongoing 77thWorld Health Assembly, even as the steady drumbeat of misinformation on a Pandemic Agreement rises to a feverish pitch.
[May 23] Attempts to Discredit Communication from South African Presidency on Pandemic Agreement Negotiations, Creates Confusion At a Key Juncture
Global Health Geneva is not insulated from the wider trends that affect much of the world. The negotiations at WHO are also witnessing a moment where the reality has been splintered. For this story, we fact-checked, have gone beyond official statements and have tried to connect the dots. What emerges is a rather complicated picture.
[May 21] African Markers: Letter from the South African Presidency on the Negotiations for a Pandemic Agreement
In a powerful, hard-hitting letter, Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, also the African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention Preparedness & Response, has laid down the most important priorities for the Africa Group in the negotiations for a new Pandemic Agreement currently underway at WHO in Geneva.
[May 19] Close, But Not Yet: Consensus Pending on the Amendments to the International Health Regulations
Far from the menacing flames of politically motivated misinformation on these processes, negotiators in Geneva are putting their heads together staying focused on concluding these negotiations working nearly round the clock without adequate sleep or food or (good) coffee. It has been a privilege to witness this commitment from all countries.
[May 11] Pandemic Agreement Talks On Borrowed Time, Fate of Amendments to International Health Regulations At Stake
Hours before the scheduled deadline on May 10th to conclude the negotiations towards a Pandemic Agreement, unable to find consensus WHO member states struggled to find a way to extend the negotiations.
[May 10] Consensus Elusive. Countries to Decide Next Steps, Likely to Request Additional Time To Conclude Pandemic Agreement
Negotiators in Geneva remained engaged into the wee hours in the morning this week. But as D-Day arrives, they have been unable to reach consensus on a number of different areas towards a new Pandemic Agreement.
[May 9] Rupture in Africa Group Muddies Waters, But Developing Countries are Fighting Back for Equity Considerations in Pathogen Access & Benefit Sharing
The negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement took a decisive turn this week, when at least two African countries became a part of a wider cross-regional group lending their support for a proposal that also reportedly has the backing of the EU and the U.S., in the context of the critical provision on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing, according to multiple sources.
[May 8] The Contested Space of Intellectual Property Rules in a Pandemic Agreement: Terms of Technology Transfer & the Unease with the Peace Clause
In this edition, we focus on the discussion around technology transfer and examine why this has been so contentious. Countries continue to make simultaneous progress across different provisions in these negotiations. We are striving to bring you snapshots of some of these discussions as they evolve.
[May 6] A Turning Point? The EU & the U.S. Draw Out Four African Countries to Bridge Positions on Pathogen Access & Benefit Sharing [Exclusive]
Hosts to the biggest pharmaceutical companies, the European Union and the U.S., drew four African countries into an exclusive closed-door informal meeting on May 3, in a bid to bridge positions on the proposed mechanism on Pathogen Access Benefit Sharing [PABS] – a cornerstone to the new Pandemic Agreement under negotiation at World Health Organization, diplomatic sources and experts familiar with the development said.
[May 3] The Depth of The Divide: Reluctance to Link Pathogen Access to Benefit-Sharing. An Approaching Tipping Point in the Negotiations as Countries Stick to Their Positions
WHO member states finally began text-based negotiations on a new Pandemic Agreement at WHO this week after more than two years since the process commenced. This comes far too late, with just over a handful of negotiating days left to conclude this process. As a result, the risk of a weak text emerging out of this process is nearly certain now.
[April 30] Pandemic Agreement Talks: The Final Toss - Access & Benefits Sharing Vs One Health? Health Financing Politics Come into Play as Africa Group Holds the Wild Card
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body set up to establish a new Pandemic Agreement resumed its discussions this week in a final lap aiming to conclude the negotiation, with numerous hurdles along the way to the finish line including process concerns, divergence on key issues and factors external to WHO.
[April 27] IHR Goes into Extra Time: Countries Make Definite Progress on the Amendments to the International Health Regulations, But Not Enough to Close a Deal
Negotiations on the International Health Regulations go down to the wire as countries were unable to complete the discussions at the end of the final meeting of the Working Group to amend the IHR, that concluded this week. Riding on a constructive approach and an overall positive momentum, countries made steady progress under the decisive leadership of co-chairs Abdullah Asiri and Ashley Bloomfield, but a few areas of contention remained as the clock ticked away towards the conclusion of the meeting on April 26, Friday.
[April 23] “Equity” Stands A Chance In the International Health Regulations. Without Financing, Compliance At Stake
The Working Group set up to amend the International Health Regulations (WG-IHR) has tried to bell the cat. For the first time in more than two years of these negotiations, the Bureau of the WG-IHR has formulated proposals to reflect language that attempts to capture equity-related provisions suggested by developing countries in order to frame obligations on equitable access in the IHR. It however, shies away from pushing for a dedicated financing mechanism to ensure implementation of IHR obligations.
[April 19] Pressure Builds On Countries To Embrace Weak Pandemic Agreement, Operationalizing Equity at Risk with a Framework Approach
Earlier this week the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body released the latest draft of the Pandemic Agreement due for consideration at a resumed meeting beginning April 29th that will see marathon negotiations with an aim to conclude this process by May 10th.
II. The Files In-Depth
[June 27] Cataclysmic: The Proposed Dismantling of the MSF Access Campaign Strikes At the Heart of Influential Activism, Political-Legal Battles in Global Health At Stake
In recent days, access to medicines activists in many parts of the world are grappling with developments that have struck at the heart of the movement.
Médecins Sans Frontières, arguably one of the most powerful, influential and well-funded activist organization in the space, has proposed a restructuring its well-regarded and highly admired Access Campaign that currently works all over the world in the most political and challenging settings and one that consistently led and expanded the access to medical products for a range of diseases. MSF has programmes in more than 75 countries across the world.
[June 18] Gaza's Healthcare Collapse: A Global Failure to Uphold International Humanitarian Law
One of the greatest achievements of international diplomacy is the unequivocal commitment of states to safeguard healthcare amidst the pandemonium of war and conflict. During chaos and hostilities, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) reiterates this consensus through its mandate to protect healthcare systems and medical missions to help those caught in the crossfires. Yet, the current realities in the Gaza enclave present a disconcerting picture.
[June 4] Countries Voted Eight Times in a Politicized World Health Assembly Revealing Geopolitical Fissures
When countries vote on contentious issues at international organizations, it reflects not only a lack of consensus, but also the strains in conducting dialogue in a highly polarized world. The recently concluded annual meeting of WHO member states, has been one of the most political World Health Assemblies in recent times with countries voting at least eight times on matters relating to Palestine, Ukraine and on language related to gender.
[May 28] WHO Launches Investment Round Amidst Burden of Expectations
In a climate raw with distrust, and unmet expectations on the reforms for Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response, WHO member states gather in Geneva this week for the 77th World Health Assembly. The week-long meeting that began on May 27, will run till June 1, pouring over scores of items on the agenda including reforms on health emergencies, financing, climate and health, malaria, antimicrobial resistance among others.
[May 15] WHO gears up for “Investment Round” amidst tough climate for financing. Up to $4 billion in the pipeline to meet $7.1 billion funding gap over four years
Despite a tough climate to raise funds, WHO is gearing up for the first-ever Investment Round to sustainably finance its operations in a flexible, predictable manner over the next four years. The Investment Round – the first of its kind for a UN agency, will be officially launched at the World Health Assembly that begins on May 27th. A new investment case will be unveiled on May 28th at the Assembly. Following pledges, including from new donors, the exercise is expected to culminate in a high-level in November 2024.
[April 16] Next Draft of The Pandemic Agreement Will Likely Have No Fund and No Binding Obligations On Pathogen Access & Benefits Sharing, Defers Modalities to Conference of Parties
A draft version of the proposed negotiating text for a Pandemic Agreement, currently being discussed internally, has no reference to a dedicated fund that would help implementation of new obligations on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Such a pooled fund previously articulated in a prior text was also meant to help finance existing obligations under the International Health Regulations.
III. Guest Essays
[June 11] Countries Agree on Vital Disclosure Requirements on Genetic Resources & Traditional Knowledge at WIPO: A Win for Greater Balance in IP Politics
This analysis of the key provisions of the new treaty is a guest contribution from Sreenath Namboodiri, a legal researcher, who also wrote for our readers last month when this was being negotiated in May 2024 in Geneva.
[May 20] The WIPO Diplomatic Conference on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, and Traditional Knowledge, Gets off to a Start in Geneva
Member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization are negotiating a potential new multilateral treaty that, if adopted by 15 member states, will, for the first time, create an international mandate to disclose the origins of genetic resources and the use of traditional knowledge in any invention that applies for a patent.
[May 7] One Health: A Bargaining Chip in the Pandemic Agreement Negotiations?
The possibility of a One Health instrument flowing out of the INB process is on the table - as proposed by the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body in April 2024. Whether such an outcome will become real will depend on a number of factors including negotiations on other articles in the Pandemic Agreement related to financing, and to the system on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing.
[April 15] Principles to Guide the Pathogen Access-and-Benefit Sharing System [PABS] in a Pandemic Agreement; Update: Proposal to Buy More Time to Operationalize PABS by May 2026
As the 77th World Health Assembly approaches, global health diplomats are scrambling to finalize a comprehensive agreement on pandemic preparedness, prevention, response, and recovery that covers the broadest range of factors: national resilience and surveillance; protection of the vulnerable; technology transfer and local manufacturing; and management of supply chains, among others.
[April 9] How The EU Prepares For the Next Global Pandemic Domestically: An Examination of the Union Compulsory Licence
In today’s edition, we look at policy discussions within the EU on some of these difficult matters. Our guest authors from Health Action International [HAI], have tracked the evolution of the recent processes on IP related matters, particularly the proposal for the use of a region-wide compulsory license, through the institutions in Brussels.
[April 3] A Robust PABS System: Make or Break for the Pandemic Accord
In the Geneva Health Files, we proposed a robust Pathogen Access and Benefits (PABS) system that imposes binding obligations on users of biological materials and genetic sequence data (GSD) to make mandatory monetary contributions. PABS is necessary but not sufficient to ensure equity. There is still important work to do on intellectual property waivers and technology transfers. But PABS is important. The Africa Group and the Equity Group are unlikely to acquiesce to a treaty without a strong PABS system.
IV. The Files Brief
[April 5] Developing Countries Call for a Review of the TRIPS Agreement at the WTO
Dismayed by the lack of effective response from the WTO during, and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, some developing countries are calling for a systematic review of the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
V. The Files Interview
[June 25] "The Art of the Possible": Unpacking the Negotiations on the Amendments to the International Health Regulations
On June, 1 2024, member states of the World Health Organization reached consensus on key changes to international rules that govern the response to health emergencies.
Countries adopted the amendments to the International Health Regulations after two years of intense negotiations. This has been heralded as a success for multilateralism in a period of difficult geopolitical challenges, but the process has also been a triumph of determination in getting more than 190 countries to agree on how the world can better prepare and respond to health emergencies.
Earlier this month, we spoke with Co-Chair Ashley Bloomfield from New Zealand to seek his reflections on the process and the key turning points in these negotiations. We also have a written interview with Co-Chair Abdullah Asiri that follows below.
[April 26] “Equity and Financing are Really Key to Probably Doing the Deal Ultimately”: WG-IHR Co-Chairs Asiri & Bloomfield on the Amendments to the International Health Regulations
In today’s edition we bring you an exclusive interview with Abdullah Asiri of Saudi Arabia, and Ashley Bloomfield of New Zealand, Co-Chairs of the Working Group for the amendments to the IHR. They have led this careful process and are scheduled to steer these negotiations towards conclusion with significant and targeted amendments - mostly led by member states.
VI. The Files Audio
[June 25] Consensus on the Historic Amendments to the International Health Regulations: How It Happened.
WHO member states concluded historic negotiations on amending the International Health Regulations (IHR) in June 2024. We bring you an exclusive interview with Dr Ashley Bloomfield from New Zealand, who along with his team at the Working Group to amend the IHR, led these negotiations into consensus. (See interview transcript here.)
[June 13] Podcasting As a Way to Break Barriers in Global Health: A Conversation with Garry Aslanyan
In this conversation, we talk about his journey of producing podcasts in global health over the last four years, and how he sees this medium as a way to break the silos in this field.
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