Pandemic Agreement Hailed as Major Step for Global Public Health
The agreement, recently approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), marks a significant step forward for global public health. If such an agreement had existed before 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact would have been considerably different. The agreement ensures that the world will be significantly better prepared to manage or even prevent future pandemics.
What are the specific actions the agreement entails?
Essentially, 124 countries have committed to preventing, preparing for, and responding to future pandemics. Nations that formally approve the agreement will be obligated to fulfill various commitments, including investing in healthcare infrastructure, sharing intellectual property, and facilitating technology transfer.
One of the most promising aspects is the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System. This system will require U.N. member states to exchange information and data regarding potential pandemic viruses, including sequencing of new viruses or variants. It also covers the sharing of relevant vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic technologies. Vaccine manufacturers in participating countries will be expected to provide 20% of their pandemic vaccine production in real time to the WHO for global distribution, prioritizing poorer countries and those with the greatest need. Member countries will donate 10% of these vaccines free of charge.
Such a system could have significantly reduced loss of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the initial years, unequal access to vaccines was a major issue, and studies indicate that hundreds of thousands of deaths in lower-income countries could have been prevented with a more equitable vaccine supply.
Notably, the U.S., traditionally a major player in global health initiatives, is absent from the agreement. While it abstained from voting, the U.S.’s non-participation is significant. COVID-19 demonstrated the interconnectedness of global health. Isolationist approaches are ineffective against infectious diseases. Even countries with the strictest containment measures eventually experienced widespread virus transmission once international travel or strict lockdowns were eased. Preventing future pandemics necessitates ensuring that all countries, including those with low- and middle-incomes, possess the resources needed to prevent outbreaks and contain them before they escalate.
The agreement also highlights the continued commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation among most nations. Some critics, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr, have suggested the agreement could threaten national sovereignty by compromising countries’ ability to make health policy decisions related to pandemics. However, the agreement explicitly states that it respects the sovereignty of countries to implement it according to their own national constitutions.
Global agreements of this magnitude are infrequent. However, when they occur, they represent substantial commitments. Although the Pandemic Agreement is less formal and legally binding, previous U.N. global treaties have saved millions of lives. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first WHO treaty, has reduced tobacco use by one-third over the past 20 years and has been linked to the success of policies such as indoor smoking bans.
While global agreements require financial and political investments, they can prove cost-effective in the long term. The Minamata Convention, a U.N. treaty focused on reducing the health and environmental impacts of mercury, is projected to generate significant savings in the U.S. alone.
Beyond pandemics, the agreement also encourages collaborative actions to improve public health in numerous ways. For instance, it directs participating countries to strengthen healthcare workforces and consider the need for equity and advancing universal health coverage. Generally, the stronger and fairer a country’s healthcare system was before COVID-19, the better equipped it was to manage the disease. Improved and more equitable healthcare systems are valuable in themselves, reducing health disparities and improving various health outcomes, including non-communicable diseases.
The agreement also proposes a “one health” approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. This recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Although the current risk to humans is low, avian influenza still presents pandemic potential. A “one health” approach can prevent and minimize spread within and across species, ultimately reducing the risk of zoonotic spillover into humans. This approach is also relevant for other health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance and food safety.
The Pandemic Agreement offers a reason for optimism amid current global health challenges.
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