Dear Readers,
We are happy to have survived this packed month!
Here is a recap on everything significant that bubbled up in Global Health in Geneva.
And in case you missed it earlier, here were two interesting events we were a part of this month:
A discussion on global health governance and financing at the World Health Summit in Berlin in a session called Global Health Governance Post-COVID-19. The SDG3 Global Action Plan as Key Vehicle for Synergies? You can watch it here.
With my fellow researcher Remco van de Pas (The Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp), we presented findings from a research project on the pandemic treaty. The project is steered by the Geneva Global Health Hub. You can watch the presentation and the ensuing discussion here. My slides are here. A formal launch event in Geneva is scheduled in November where the final report will be released.
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As always, thank you for your interest.
Best,
Priti
MONTHLY ROUNDUP: OCTOBER 2021
1. October 8th: Review of International Health Regulations Makes Space in Treaty Talks
The opposition to the idea of a pandemic treaty appears to be strengthening, even as there is emerging preference for a revision of existing rules such as the International Health Regulations, in order to better address future emergencies. On-going discussions suggest that WHO member states might prefer other ways to govern pandemic preparedness and response instead of crafting a new instrument. As in other policy spheres, these matters too, are being driven by geopolitical considerations.
At a meeting this week, the working group on strengthening WHO preparedness and response to health emergencies (WGPR), set up to discuss the need for a new legal instrument to address future health emergencies, many countries seemed to be in favor of strengthening the International Health Regulations (IHRs) instead of forging ahead for a new pandemic treaty according to multiple sources familiar with the proceedings.
2. October 15th: Examining the “subtle shift” in the TRIPS Waiver talks
Over the last two weeks, there have been indications of some behind-the-scenes movement that show WTO members’ willingness to arrive at a consensus on the intellectual property response to the pandemic. Although at the face of it, there has been no structural change in the way countries have aligned on the TRIPS Waiver discussions, nevertheless there has been greater engagement among members, sources familiar with the discussions say. As we reported last week, during the General Council meeting at the WTO, officials had suggested “a subtle shift” in these discussions.
What continues to be unclear however, is whether the direction of this shift is towards the bold proposal made by South Africa and India, on temporarily suspending a range of intellectual property protections in order to unplug bottlenecks in the manufacturing of medical products, to swiftly respond to the pandemic.
3. October 22nd: "Equity" Expands in Pandemic Treaty Discussions at WHO:
WHO member states continue to engage and wrestle with the question on whether the world needs a new legal instrument to address future emergencies. Considerations on equity are fast-assuming center-space in these discussions. However, it is too early to say whether and to what extent will equity be addressed meaningfully in future governance of health emergencies.
Under the Working group on strengthening WHO preparedness and response to health emergencies (WGPR), member states had several consultations this week.
In two inter-sessional meetings this week, the working group had discussions in a “deep dive” format on “equity and medical countermeasures and sample sharing (benefits derived there-of)”; and on a new instrument. In addition, countries also had a dialogue with Non-State Actors.
Many countries expressed caution and hesitation, raising questions on intent, process, timelines and efficiencies in the context of these discussions, according to sources present at the meeting. It was also noted that there was growing openness among member states to engage in these discussions.
4. October 29th: Pathogen-Sharing and the Access to Benefits: Theory And Practice [By Divya Venkatesh]
In a pandemic, the sharing of pathogen samples - and associated data such as genetic sequences and epidemiological information are critical for effective public health response - both globally and locally. This is particularly important for the development of medical countermeasures, such as vaccines and diagnostics. And as this pandemic has shown, the sharing of these medical countermeasures across the world is as important to fight the spread of disease.