A Roadmap to Equity in Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention and Response

Abstract

One of the most prominent reactions to COVID-19 at the global level is possibly the ambition to develop a new multilateral treaty to help tackle the next pandemic. Under the auspice of the World Health Organization, the so-called WHO CA+ (also referred to as the Pandemic Treaty) negotiations offer a unique opportunity to strengthen equity, transparency and cooperation in global public health. However, these intergovernmental negotiations are taking place at a critical time, when the access and benefit sharing (ABS) regime for genetic resources is fragmented and outdated - even rendered obsolete - by the digitization of genetic resources. We propose here a set of policy recommendations to ensure the Pandemic Treaty negotiations will yield a comprehensive, scientifically sound, and ethically robust new instrument that reinforces multilateralism. We recommend possible ways to streamline ABS modalities into the context of pathogens, to define the scope of the Pandemic Treaty to encompass a wide range of pathogens and genetic resources and finally to address the challenges posed by digitization. We conclude by underlining the importance of scientific expertise to effectively help integrate our recommendations. We strongly support the creation of an international panel for pandemic preparedness and response to be possibly integrated into the Pandemic Treaty provisions. This inclusive and multilateral panel, reflecting successful models such as the IPCC and IPBES, would provide knowledge for effective and efficient decision-making against the next pandemic.

Note:

Funding Information: Christine Frison as supported by the Belgian National Funds for Scientific Research (F.R.S-FNRS) grant29 n°1.B.172.18F and Pierre Walckiers under the grant n°40011887 (ASP-FNRS).

Conflict of Interests: We declare no competing interests.

Keywords: Pandemic Treaty, Access and Benefit Sharing, Global Health Governance, Equity, DSI, WHO CA+