2.C. Round table: A Pandemic Treaty to deliver global health equity: negotiating under a ticking clock
Authors:   Organised by: EUPHA-GH, -LAW, -IDCChair persons: Elena Petelos (EUPHA-HTA, -GH), Amandine Garde (EUPHA-LAW)
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Access to medical countermeasures (vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics), fair resource allocation and a global health framework to counter future pandemics are to be provided for by the Pandemic Treaty, intensely debated in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) over the past two years. The final negotiations round began under tremendous pressure (Apr 29, 2024), with dissonance on structural treaty elements and a ticking clock to finalise the text at the World Health Assembly (end of May 2024). At a time of shifting geopolitical powers, in a year of elections across the world, war in Europe and rising defence expenditure, countries are reluctant to commit; the draft postpones key decisions, proposing to establish two intergovernmental working groups for instruments on One Health and prevention, and on a Pathogen Access and Benefits (PABS), with technology transfer and capacity-building remain largely unaddressed, despite COVID-19 lessons. With EU and G7 countries holding to their positions on surveillance, financing, and intellectual property (IP), negotiations will continue. A more critical question remains: will the Treaty’s be adequate and timely enough to meet the challenges of inevitable future pandemics? Will it deliver the global framework of its foundational purpose of equity and justice? This RT aims to inform and involve the European public health community, continuing the series of activities embarked upon at the beginning of the pandemic, empowering its members for evidence-informed advocacy and concerted action. Following a brief presentation on the Treaty’s key provisions, each panel member will deliver a brief (2-3 min) intervention based on core expertise, with two rounds of panel questions/statements to follow, and with an interactive element to prioritise and submit questions. The first elaborating on the current provisions, linking them to the key expertise of panel members, i.e., international and EU law, public health law, One Health and infectious disease control, global health policies, technology transfer, fair pricing and access to countermeasures. The second examining what can be achieved via evidence-informed advocacy, and with a special focus on the role of the European public health community. Has it been well represented so far in negotiations? Should it be more involved? Is it well equipped to provide expert advice to Europe’s policymakers? Is there complementarity in relation to Europe’s Global Health Strategy (GHS) and national global health plans? Finally, the role of WHO will be briefly debated. How can sovereignty be safeguarded without compromising implementation? What is the role of transparency and sound governance to remain in line with national and EU laws and priorities? The last five minutes of this RT will be used to consolidate messages and share plans to inform future formal EUPHA positioning in negotiations.

Key messages
• Pandemic accord deliberation has have taken place under extreme urgency and geopolitical pressure. The European public health community must be informed and engaged for EU and country-level advocacy.
• At a time of permacrisis, the adoption of a global framework for fair resouce allocation, access to medical countermeasures,and to strengthen health systems for future pandemics is urgently needed.

Speakers/Panelists
Sujitha Subramanian
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Dimitra Lingri
European Healthcare Fraud and Corruption Network, Brussels, Belgium
Debjani Muller
HTAi, Edmonton, Canada
Ricardo Mexia
National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
Bettina Borisch
WFPHA, Geneva, Switzerland