Tackling it together: for a unified pandemic response
To achieve a unified global pandemic response, there are several strategic policy considerations that can facilitate a transition to cohesive, coordinated, transparent, flexible and local responses that will truly take us from fragmentation to integration T he Covid-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented global health crisis, resulting in millions of deaths and severe societal and economic disruptions worldwide. The pandemic exposed major gaps, inequities and fragmentation in global health governance, financing and technical infrastructure for pandemic preparedness and response. In recognition of these systemic weaknesses, a multitude of global and regional initiatives has been launched over the past two years to strengthen mechanisms for preventing, detecting and responding to future pandemic threats. Key proposals include an international legal instrument, a ‘pandemic accord’, amendments to the International Health Regulations, a pandemic fund and similar regional efforts. However, there is a risk that these fragmented initiatives may lead to duplication, inconsistencies, high transaction costs and continued inequities unless they align properly within a coherent global health architecture. The strategic integration of these various efforts is critical to develop a truly effective, equitable global system for pandemic preparedness and response. Key strategic considerations should focus on priorities such as governance, financing, access to medical countermeasures, accountability mechanisms and multisectoral collaboration.
inadequacies exposed during Covid-19, such as timely information sharing, travel measures and equitable access to medical countermeasures. The United Nations High Level Meeting in New York in September 2023 sought political commitment at the level of heads of state and government to strengthen multisectoral pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, setting the tone for the proposed pandemic accord and IHR amendments. And the G20 and World Bank have established a financial intermediary fund to provide long-term, scalable and sustainable financing for pandemic preparedness, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. STRATEGIC POLICY CONSIDERATIONS The diversity of these initiatives reflects a growing momentum to address the gaps revealed by Covid-19. However, careful coordination is needed to transition into a truly unified, equitable and effective global pandemic response architecture. The following strategic policy considerations can facilitate this transition by promoting synergies, reducing duplication and incoherence, and keeping equity at the centre. 1. Ensure complementarity between global and regional instruments. Identify interlinkages between the proposed pandemic accord, IHR amendments, G20/World Bank initiatives, UN political declarations and efforts by regional entities. Harmonise and create synergies between global and regional initiatives to increase policy coherence and political momentum and reduce duplication. Global instruments should provide overarching principles and standards flexible enough to build
THE CURRENT LANDSCAPE Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, several proposals have been developed at both the global and regional level to strengthen capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. One key global initiative underway is the pandemic accord. An intergovernmental negotiating body is developing this new international instrument focused on better cooperation, solidarity and equity in future pandemic responses. Another initiative is amending the IHR, last revised in 2005. A working group is reviewing potential amendments to fix
By Precious Matsoso, co-chair, Intergovernmental Negotiating Body for the Pandemic Accord, and Elil Renganathan, professor of public health and policy, Sunway University
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Health: A Political Choice – From Fragmentation to Integration
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