GOVERNING PANDEMICS
A one-stop shop tracking efforts to strengthen global pandemic governance
THE GOVERNING PANDEMICS INITIATIVE
Covid-19 has exposed major gaps in the global system for governing preparedness for and responses to pandemics. The Global Health Centre's Governing Pandemics initiative is tracking efforts to address these gaps. This site offers a one-stop information source on six issues that have been identified as requiring reform, and on the proposed pandemic treaty.
For each issue, the main problems, pre-Covid-19 reforms, 2021 recommendations by major international panels, and ongoing policy debates are summarized. Regular updates will be provided as efforts progress.
GOVERNING PANDEMICS 101
Pandemics such as Covid-19 pose wicked challenges for global governance. The Global Health Centre is piloting a free, open online course designed for learners who wish to follow and engage with ongoing processes to reform global arrangements for pandemic preparedness and response.
Topics include WHO; treaties; financing: sharing of data and samples; access to vaccines and drugs; trade and travel restrictions; animal-human health; human rights; humanitarian assistance; universal health coverage and geopolitics.
TIMELINE OF EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN
GLOBAL PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS
UPCOMING
JANUARY 2023
-
30 January-7 February 2023: Executive Board, 152nd session
-
9-13 January: IHR Review Committee meeting for finalization of the report. The IHR RC will then submit its report to the DG by 15 January 2023.
DECEMBER 2022
-
5-7 December: Third meeting of the INB
NOVEMBER 2022
-
28 November-2 December: IHR Review Committee meeting for report drafting purposes
PAST
NOVEMBER 15, 2022: INB 3
-
The Bureau released the Conceptual zero draft for the consideration of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body at its third meeting.
NOVEMBER 14-15, 2022: Working Group on IHR Amendments
-
The WGIHR/1 met to elect the officers of the Bureau, organize aspects of the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations, review the process of receiving proposed amendments and establishing a Review Committee regarding amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005), review the proposed method of work, and discuss its coordination with the INB to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
NOVEMBER 13, 2022: The Pandemic Fund (previously the Financial Intermediary Fund)
-
The G20 Presidency of Indonesia, in partnership with the Pandemic Fund secretariat, officially launched The Pandemic Fund to provide long-term financing for pandemic preparedness and response. At this time, The Pandemic Fund has a total of US$1.4 billion in funding committed by 24 donors.
OCTOBER 24-28, 2022: IHR Review Committee
-
The IHR Review Committee met from 24-28 October to present the rationale for amendments proposed by State Parties, including a meeting with Member States, United Nations and relevant organisations on 27 October.
OCTOBER 6, 2022: IHR Review Committee
-
The IHR Review Committee regarding amendments to the IHR established its Terms of Reference with the timeline of the work.
OCTOBER 2022: Informal, focused consultations
-
The IFC on "Operationalizing and achieving equity" took place on October 5 from 12-3 PM.
-
The IFC on "Intellectual property (IP), and access to pandemic response products" took place on October 7 from 2-5 PM.
-
The IFC on "One-Health, AMR, Climate, and Zoonosis" took place on October 14 from 12-3 PM.
RECENT VIDEOS
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Workshop Report: How can an international pandemic instrument address One Health? Chabrier M & Strobeyko AP
Policy Brief: International sharing of pathogens and genetic sequence data under a pandemic treaty, Piselli D
Policy Brief: The Deep Prevention of Future Pandemics through a One Health Approach: What Role for a Pandemic Instrument? Le Moli G, Viñuales JE, Burci GL, Strobeyko AP, Moon S
Policy Brief: The European Union and the negotiation of the International Pandemic Treaty, Ruiz Cairó E
Countermeasure R&D: Global Norms for Financing Risk Reduction, Resilience and Equity, Strobejko AP
Taxonomy of Substantive Proposals for a New Instrument on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, Balcazar AB, Burci GL, Strobejko AP
Policy Brief: Why and how to reflect universal health coverage in the pandemic treaty, UHC2030
Flipbook: Options for a Global Pandemic Treaty
PAST EVENTS
Healthcare and climate change: Victim or perpetrator?
Thematic Deep Dive on a Pandemic Treaty
The long-term view: How to sustain local vaccine production for pandemics?
Financing WHO Well: Low-hanging Fruit or Mission Impossible?
Introduction to the 75th World Health Assembly: Charting a path to the Triple Billion Targets in a Pandemic Era
Options, outcomes and opportunities: Reflecting on the WHA Special Session