Geneva Health Files July-September 2024 [The GHF WRAP]
The Q3 2024 Roundup from Geneva Health Files
Dear Readers,
I am very pleased to present to you a wrap of the last three months of our reportage.
Here is a snapshot of the range of offerings from us including comprehensive and consistent coverage of the legal discussions at WHO, reporting on the mpox emergency, discussions at the WTO, an updated book that was launched last week, among others! We also published guest essays including on AMR, the UN Tax Convention, among other topics. Do check out the fabulous interview and the related podcast on the Pathogen Access Benefit Sharing mechanism. (For new readers we also have an introductory video on our work!)
Yes, it has been a busy summer in Geneva.
I am grateful to my team including Tessa Jager, Nishant Sirohi, Bianca Carvalho, Vivek ND, and Parth Chandna who have worked hard to help me bring these stories to you often under very tight deadlines.
My colleague Sana Ali has compiled this for you.
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Best,
Priti
Feel free to write to us: patnaik.reporting@gmail.com or Follow us on Twitter: @filesgeneva
Highlights: July-September 2024
Compiled by Sana Ali
I. Treaty Talks
[September 20] Pathogen Data Access Not Assured Without Agreed Benefits: Emerging Position from Some Developing Countries
Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing [PABS], the elusive crown jewel in a new Pandemic Agreement has dominated these talks for more than a year. But it was not until early 2024, that the mechanism - initially a proposal from the Africa Group and other developing countries - got serious traction by a growing number of countries, and began to be considered in the right earnest when it came to be seen as a commercial opportunity, on the back of greater legal certainty to devise the first ever multilateral system in global health to share pathogen information.
[September 18] Slow Progress as Schism Continues Between Countries
Schism continues between countries, as they dig in their heels maintaining their stated positions on the trickiest elements in a new Pandemic Agreement including on surveillance, prevention, technology transfer, research and development, Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) – some of the few provisions in the draft instrument that have been discussed in recent days. WHO member states continued their deliberations at the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body meeting that is convening September 9-20 this month in Geneva.
[September 11] Countries Sink Teeth into the Form of a Pandemic Agreement
After a hiatus of a few brief weeks, WHO member states gathered for the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body seeking to inject renewed vigour towards concluding a Pandemic Agreement in the coming months. We reported earlier that the mpox emergency adds to the urgency of these negotiations, as prevailing approaches to address this health crisis is struggling to match up towards an effective response following the familiar paths of the response to earlier emergencies including COVID-19, Ebola among others.
[September 04] Lessons From The Negotiations On The Pandemic Agreement: Key Learnings Over Two Years
As WHO member states resume negotiations this month towards a new Pandemic Agreement, we take a step back and look at a few key lessons from these discussions over the last two years, and present what can potentially be done differently over the coming months. Along the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, we conducted the Geneva Health Files Dialogues that brought together experts who have been tracking the process, and informed the substantive aspects of these negotiations.
[July 18] Tense Discussions On Process & Way Forward: Pandemic Agreement Talks Set For An Uphill Climb to Consensus
This was supposed to be a “reset”. When WHO member states met this week for the tenth meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, it was expected that they would analyse lessons learned from over two years of negotiations towards a new Pandemic Agreement and chart a way ahead to conclude these discussions.
II. The Files Brief
[August 30] Mpox Response Reveals Governance Shifts in Global Health, Presents Evidence on Policy Constraints
We bring you a quick update on how Africa CDC and WHO are trying to align their response to deal with the mpox emergency. We present snapshots from a special briefing this week that took place on the sidelines of the Seventy-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa.
III. The Files In-Depth
[August 16] Resource & Access Challenges Constrain Mpox Response As WHO Elevates It To Public Health Emergency of International Concern
Close on the heels of Africa CDC declaring mpox as a public health emergency of continental security on August 13, WHO elevated the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a growing number of African countries, to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). For now, the international response to the emergency is hemmed in by inadequate access to financial resources, and the access to medical products including vaccines and diagnostics.
[August 13] Watchdog Investigations Show Attempts by Philip Morris Japan to Target The Young & Influence Policymakers To Sell Heated Tobacco Product
A new investigation by STOP - a network of academic and public health organisations, published in June 2024, has found that Philip Morris International (PMI), one of the world's largest tobacco corporations, adopted strategies intended to increase the consumption of its heated tobacco product (HTP) called IQOS by attempting to influence policymakers, businesses and consumers in Japan in 2019.
[July 11] Developing Countries Push for a Review of TRIPS Agreement at the WTO, Stalled by Few Developed Countries
Intellectual Property (IP) rules have long determined the policy space for countries especially when it comes to regulating the interface between trade and health. WTO’s Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), that governs and enforces this multilateral system has not been reviewed in the 30 years since the Agreement was concluded on April 15, 2024.
[July 04] The Evolution of Global Health: Tracing Historical Ideas and Practices
From the rudimentary medical practices in the colonial era to the sophisticated international health systems of today, the journey of global health reflects a dynamic interplay of science, politics and human resilience. This essay explores this multifaceted journey, uncovering how past endeavours have shaped current global health policy, and continue to influence the initiatives to fight contemporary health challenges. The essay not only highlights pivotal moments and figures, but also underscores the enduring importance of international cooperation in tackling transnational health threats.
IV. The Files Interview
[September 06] "Scientists Have Control & Can Decide Where to Share Data": Colin J Carlson
The discussions on the Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing Mechanism reached a feverish pitch this week when a range of experts from the pharma industry, civil society organizations and other practitioners, weighed down on what is possible, and what is doable in the context of a new Pandemic Agreement. The day long proceedings threw up a bewildering range of issues from definitions, principles, governance and accountability, among others.
V. The Files Audio
[September 25] "Everyone should benefit from science. That's a progressive understanding of science": Colin Carlson on the Pathogen Access & Benefits Sharing System
In this episode of our podcast we bring you a timely and insightful interview with Colin J Carlson at Yale University, who works on the legal, political, and scientific determinants of disease outbreak reporting and data sharing.
VI. Guest Essays
[September 13] Mpox - A Critical Reminder For Obligations To Prioritize & Invest in Universal Health Coverage in the Pandemic Agreement
As Member States meet from 9 September 2024 to 20 September 2024 for the 11thsession of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (INB); they will do so with the Africa CDC and the World Health Organization having just declared the mpox virus a public health emergency of international concern on August 13 and 14, respectively.
[August 28] UN Tax Convention: A Structural Transformation for Financing Health
A recent historic vote at the United Nations has set the terms for the first-ever global treaty on tax. The treaty, known as the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation (UNTC), represents a structural transformation that has the potential to deliver significant financing and increase health and social equity. Experts from Partners in Health, discuss the recent breakthrough towards an international tax treaty at the UN, that could eventually plug the leaks in public finances, contributing to much needed resources for a range of needs, including health goals.
[August 20] To Fight Mpox, Release Vaccine Stockpiles
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC ) under the International Health Regulations (IHR). WHO’s decision comes at a time when Mpox cases continue to ravage the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa. Prior to WHO’s announcement, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS). However, any qualitative change on the ground from these declarations depends on the access to vaccines.
[August 07] IHR 2005 Amendments: Setting the Legal Framework for Equity
In today’s edition, we bring you a guest essay that looks closely at the recently amended International Health Regulations. As Global Health Geneva picks up the negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement in a few weeks, countries will build on the progress made in the IHR negotiations.
[July 23] The Wrong Remedy: What Proposed Pull Incentives for Antimicrobial Research & Development Ignore About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Ahead of the second UN High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) scheduled for September 2024, member states are negotiating a political declaration meant to strengthen and accelerate the world’s response to address drug-resistant infections - a global health crisis that is taking millions of lives and threatening decades of medical progress.
VII. UPDATED BOOK
The TRIPS Waiver Negotiations at the World Trade Organization
When Intellectual Property Trumped Global Health
By Priti Patnaik Published by Geneva Health Files
[ISBN: 9782970162728] Order here.
VIII. A VIDEO
In case you missed this!
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