This statement was delivered by Medicines Law & Policy at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), Session 12 (resumed), 6 December 2024
Madam co-chair (s), members of the bureau, distinguished delegates,
We have reached the last day of INB12, and while there is some new ‘greened’ text to be pleased about, it is equally important to recognise that the pandemic agreement is not a colouring book.
Substantive provisions on difficult issues such as equity in access, transfer of technology, IP and PABS- remain absent or are, at best, weak. Experts that could have helped identify meaningful solutions were left out of the negotiation room. It also made it difficult for relevant stakeholders to offer timely and relevant inputs to the text.
Moving forward, it will be crucial to ensure greater transparency and meaningful participation of relevant stakeholders, including in the future meetings of the Conference of Parties (COP). The COP will offer the opportunity to further improve the agreement.
In the years to come, the role of non-state actors in prevention of, preparedness for and response to pandemic and other threats to health, from which all peoples on this planet should be protected, will only become more important. Make sure they are at the table.
Medicines Law & Policy’s previous statements to INB can be found here:
- 4 December 2024: Pandemic treaty must ensure timely access to technology and know-how
- 7 November 2024: Transfer of Technology: New definition and stronger language needed
- 5 November 2024: Getting to a meaningful agreement: ML&P’s opening statement to the 12th round of pandemic accord negotiations
- 24 May 2024: Continuing to ignore the problem of the know-how gap won’t make it go away.
- 26 April 2024: The last mile: A few suggestions for the WHO Pandemic Agreement’s last two weeks of talks
All Medicines Law & Policy pandemic accord resources can be found here: https://medicineslawandpolicy.org/pandemic-accord/
Medicines Law & Policy brings together legal and policy experts in the field of access to medicines, international law, and public health. We provide policy and legal analysis, best practice models and other information that can be used by governments, non-governmental organisations, product development initiatives, funding agencies, UN agencies and others working to ensure the availability of effective, safe and affordable medicines for all.