The Pandemic Treaty
How the world is negotiating a new international agreement to prevent and prepare for the next pandemic, and the political battles over equity, sovereignty, and accountability.
Why a Treaty?
COVID-19 exposed catastrophic failures in global pandemic preparedness and response. Countries hoarded vaccines and medical supplies. Surveillance systems failed to detect and share information about the emerging virus quickly enough. The WHO lacked the authority and resources to coordinate an effective global response. The international community had no binding obligations regarding pathogen sharing, benefit sharing, or equitable access to medical countermeasures.
In December 2021, the WHO's member states agreed to negotiate a pandemic agreement (whether legally binding or not remained a key question). The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established to draft the text, with the goal of adopting the agreement at the World Health Assembly. The negotiations have proven intensely difficult, touching on sovereignty, equity, intellectual property, and the balance of power between rich and poor nations.