Backsliding on human rights and equity in the Pandemic Accord

Abstract

A May 22 draft 1 WHODraft Bureau's Text of WHO CA+. Health Policy Watch, May 22, 2023https://healthpolicy-watch.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DRAFT_INB_Bureau-text_22-May.pdfDate accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar of the WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, 2 WHOZero draft of the WHO CA+ for the consideration of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body at its fourth meeting WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (“WHO CA+”), A/INB/4/3. https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/pdf_files/inb4/A_INB4_3-en.pdfDate: Feb 1, 2023 Date accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar or the Pandemic Accord, was leaked, reported on, and published by Health Policy Watch on May 24, 2023. 3 Fletcher ER Exclusive: updated pandemic accord draft sees watered down text on publicly-funded R&D; pathogen access and “benefit sharing” linkage remain. Health Policy Watch, May 24, 2023https://healthpolicy-watch.news/exclusive-updated-pandemic-accord-draft-sees-watered-down-text-on-publicly-funded-r-pathogen-access-and-benefit-sharing-linkage-remain/Date accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar The Pandemic Accord is still being drafted and negotiated by the International Negotiating Body (INB), with their next meeting to be held on June 12–16, 2023 and further negotiations are expected until the final pandemic treaty is announced, probably at the World Health Assembly in 2024. 4 WHO“The world together”: the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. https://inb.who.int/Date: 2023 Date accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar , 5 Driece RA Matsoso P da Silva Nunes T Soliman A Taguchi K Tangcharoensathien V A WHO pandemic instrument: substantive provisions required to address global shortcomings. Lancet. 2023; 401: 1407-1410 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar The May 22 leaked draft has evoked strong criticism from human rights and health equity advocates 3 Fletcher ER Exclusive: updated pandemic accord draft sees watered down text on publicly-funded R&D; pathogen access and “benefit sharing” linkage remain. Health Policy Watch, May 24, 2023https://healthpolicy-watch.news/exclusive-updated-pandemic-accord-draft-sees-watered-down-text-on-publicly-funded-r-pathogen-access-and-benefit-sharing-linkage-remain/Date accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar , 6 People's Vaccine AllianceEquity not an optional extra in the pandemic treaty. https://peoplesvaccine.org/resources/media-releases/equity-in-pandemic-treaty/Date: May 24, 2023 Date accessed: May 31, 2023 Google Scholar on the grounds that text on the right to health and equity seems to have been removed or weakened by the INB. The text is not yet settled, and this latest draft consists of 41 articles that cover a wide range of issues, with several articles and clauses having alternative versions of text as well as the option to drop certain sections altogether. 1 WHODraft Bureau's Text of WHO CA+. Health Policy Watch, May 22, 2023https://healthpolicy-watch.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DRAFT_INB_Bureau-text_22-May.pdfDate accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar Although it is not easy to track and document all the changes made to the earlier zero draft version, 2 WHOZero draft of the WHO CA+ for the consideration of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body at its fourth meeting WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (“WHO CA+”), A/INB/4/3. https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/pdf_files/inb4/A_INB4_3-en.pdfDate: Feb 1, 2023 Date accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar cutting across the entire document 1 WHODraft Bureau's Text of WHO CA+. Health Policy Watch, May 22, 2023https://healthpolicy-watch.news/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/DRAFT_INB_Bureau-text_22-May.pdfDate accessed: May 30, 2023 Google Scholar are a number of fundamental concerns.