New Pandemic Treaty Proposal by WHO assembly

Context

The European Union (EU) and several other member-states are pushing for the WHO assembly to make a quick decision on ‘New Pandemic Treaty’ is expected to take place at the 74th World Health Assembly (WHA74).

About the New Pandemic Treaty

• It will help in creating a ‘Global Framework Convention on Pandemic Preparedness and Response’.
• WHO commissioned has commissioned three committees for this purpose:
• IHR Review Committee (IRC)
• Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC)
• Independent panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response (IPPPR)
• These committees are in favour of a new pandemic treaty.

Need for treaty

Treaty is required because it will be helpful in these ways

• Rapidly share information about epidemics, obtain biological samples of the pathogen and sequence the genomes;
• Improve access to diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines; and
• Prevent zoonotic diseases

India’s Stand

• EU sought India’s support for the treaty, to which India has so far not responded.

Criticism

• The push for this treaty distracts from the demands of the developing world for better access to vaccines and treatments.
• It tries to create a narrative that a lack of rules prevented the world from mounting an effective international response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• It is an attempt to overshadow efforts like the TRIPS waiver proposal and the demands to improve public health infrastructure and replenish the WHO’s resources.
• There is no legal vacuum for a new treaty as International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005, which were adopted under Article 21 of the WHO Constitution to prevent the international spread of disease is already present.
• Perceived deficiencies in the existing response to the COVID-19 pandemic exist not because of the absence of law but due to its poor implementation.
• A new treaty will also allow the richer member-states to decide whether to become party to each of these separate instruments thus weakening the IHR provisions.