Draft decision on pandemic treaty expected to be adopted today at WHA

A proposed draft decision asking the director-general of the World Health Organization to convene a special session of the World Health Assembly to discuss the merits of a treaty on pandemic preparedness and response is expected to be adopted later today.

The decision asks for the session to be conducted from Nov. 29 to Dec.1 and  to consider the benefits of developing a “WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response.”

A joint statement made by proponents of a treaty on Tuesday notes that a consensus has been reached at the 74th World Health Assembly to pass the draft decision.

The adoption of the decision comes after numerous member states concerns raised in the lead up to and during the WHA, with some expressing hesitance in adopting a decision on a treaty while the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing.

Russia raised this concern during a session on Tuesday where the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response presented its report to member states.

“Only once COVID has been defeated will it be appropriate for us to consider fundamental changes to the way WHO works and new treaties or conventions. We must understand why the instruments we have are not working. Is the problem with the instruments themselves? Or the way they are being used? Only a multi-faceted analysis involving all states could allow us to draw conclusions on that and to develop a future health architecture,” the Russian representative said.

A treaty for future generations

The draft decision requests a member state working group to assess the benefits of developing a WHO convention, agreement, or international instrument and report to the WHA in November. During a strategic briefing in which different independent panels and committees discussed the value of a treaty on Tuesday, WHO officials highlighted the need to think about the youth of today and future generations.

“We need a safer, fairer, more sustainable world. We need, in many ways, to write a letter to the next generation,” Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director at WHO Health Emergencies Programme.

In response to a question on the role of youth in the successful implementation of a potential treaty, Ryan said: “I think this is about your future. This is about the world you want. It's the world you want to inherit. And we've got to give it to you. And you need to make us accountable to deliver on that for you.”

Ryan recalled the many outbreaks he’s witnessed since joining WHO in 1996, and how every time there have been calls to improve for the next crisis. Some mechanisms have been put in place since, such as the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, which would enable the sharing of influenza viruses, access to vaccines, and other products. But the world “didn’t go all the way” to fix the system, he said.

“We have no shortage of recommendations. If I had … a dollar for every single recommendation that's been made in this space, I would have a completely funded program. And we might [not] even be having this meeting,” he said.

A treaty can help build the foundation for the changes needed to be better prepared for the next crisis, Ryan said. But the decision lies with member states.

“I believe that is the only way we can actually make the changes we need to make. But we leave it to you, our member states. We are a secretariat, we will be guided by you, we will carry out … the instructions that you give us,” he said.

In his remarks, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “one of the greatest drivers” of the current crisis has been the lack of solidarity and sharing of data, information, technology, and resources. That can only be addressed with a binding commitment between countries, such as through a proposed pandemic treaty, which he said should reflect “what future generations need, not what this generation wants.”

Sara Jerving contributed reporting.