Lawrence O. Gostin is distinguished professor of global health law at Georgetown University and faculty director at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is a member of the Panel for a Global Public Health Convention.
The final round of negotiations on the pandemic agreement is currently underway. Here are three key outstanding issues and suggested ways forward to achieve a victory for global health.
In May, the world has the chance to adopt a framework convention on global health, with regular Conferences of the Parties to help beat the complacency typical between pandemics.
A World Health Assembly vote last month showcased global disgust with Russia’s actions in Ukraine, but also numerous countries’ unwillingness to prioritize health and human rights over narrowly construed interests.
While there is much data available on COVID-19, it is unorganized, sometimes inaccessible, and of varying quality. This op-ed calls for an information platform to help provide policymakers, health workers, and civil society with vital information that could save lives.
