TWN Info Service on Health Issues (May24/17)
28 May 2024
Third World Network

WHO: African Union health ministers call for a special session of WHA to finalise pandemic instrument

Geneva, 28 May (TWN) – Health Minsters of the African Union member states call for the continuation of the negotiations on a pandemic instrument and to hold a special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) before the end of 2024 to finalise it.

The call is in the Communique from the African High-Level Health Ministerial Consultation held on the margins of the ongoing 77^th session of the WHA (27 May to 1 June).  The High-Level Meeting held in Geneva on 26^th May.

According to the Communique, the Health Ministers stated:

• Calls for the continuation of negotiations with a special session of the World Health Assembly to be held before the end of 2024 to finalize the pandemic instrument;
• Focus this special session of the World Health Assembly on articles and paragraphs where consensus was not reached, maintaining the text as they are;
• Promote equity, respect and solidarity during these negotiations, without rushing or linking them to the internal political dynamics of individual countries and continents;
• Support the current bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to continue leading these negotiations, ensuring continuity and institutional memory;
• Utilize the WHO Regional Committee meeting in Brazzaville in August 2024 to review the progress made.

According to observers at the WHA, reference to “the internal political dynamics of individual countries and continents” is aimed at the negotiation tactics of the United States and the European Union, to cite their internal political dynamics to resist demands for equity-related provisions in the pandemic instrument.   The often-cited internal political dynamics are:  the return of Donald Trump as US President, resistance from local politicians on the agreement, or return of conservatives in the European Parliament (where elections are forthcoming).

The Communique emphasises “the need for a global pandemic agreement that promote a robust system for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, led by the principles of solidarity and equity against public health threats, fair and equitable allocation of pandemic related products, technology transfer, multilateral pathogen access and benefits sharing system, regional manufacturing and sustainable financing mechanisms, and supported by a multisectoral governance framework to ensure transparency and accountability for the benefit of Member States”.

Draft Decision

A draft decision is being circulated among the WHO Member States with following decision points:

(1) to establish, in accordance with Rule 41 of its Rules of Procedure, an open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG), open to all Member States and Associate Members, to finalize the Pandemic Agreement;
(2) to request the Director-General to provide the IGWG with the necessary services and facilities for the performance of its work, including complete, relevant and timely information and advice;
(3) that the first meeting of the IGWG shall be held no later than [1 XXX 2024], in order to elect [a chair] / [two co-chairs], and to decide on its working methods, building on the working methods of the INB (Intergovernmental Negotiating Body) and considering lessons learned;
(4) that the IGWG shall submit its outcome for consideration by [XXX].

Many delegates informed TWN that consensus is required on the decision, especially on the following issues.

• Extension of the mandate of the INB on the pandemic instrument or the constitution of a new Intergovernmental Working Group;
• Reconstitution of the bureau or continuance of the existing bureau in case of extension of the INB mandate;
• The timeline to conclude the negotiations i.e. whether to hold a special session of the WHA before the end of 2024.

There is also a combined version of the decision incorporating the Africa Group’s views in the above-mentioned draft decision.

Committee A of the WHA (dedicated for discussions on technical health issues) is expected to constitute a drafting group to finalise the decision on 28 May afternoon when it will take up the agenda item 13.4 when it consider the report of INB.