Ugandan health advocates, along with their counterparts in the global south, are urging for equity, accountability, and financing to be central to the next global pandemic agreement.
They emphasize that such an agreement should prioritize fairness in access to health resources and ensure robust mechanisms for pandemic security.
This call from various health-related civil society groups in Uganda coincides with the ongoing negotiations among WHO Member States for the Pandemic Agreement aimed at reforming global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body reconvened for its final session on Monday, with a decision expected by May 9th regarding the treaty’s adoption.
Among the key points advocated by Ugandan advocates are sustainable health and community financing, continuous disease surveillance, and the provision of community health services.
Dr. Augustine Lubanga, the National Medical Director of Uganda Cares, expressed concern about the current gaps in the draft agreement, stressing the need for it to prioritize human lives over corporate profits and to ensure fair access to health resources during pandemics.
Advocates from developing countries, including Uganda, are particularly pushing for vaccine equity in future pandemics. They are urging the adoption of the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System within the draft agreement to ensure equitable access to medical countermeasures and adequate financing for pandemic preparedness.
These issues are expected to be part of the discussions at the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly scheduled for May 27, 2024, where Member States will consider the proposed text of the pandemic agreement for adoption.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of such an agreement in protecting future generations from the suffering experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, Director for Public Health at the Ministry of Health, highlighted the contention surrounding the proposed PABS System, research and development, and technology transfer.
He mentioned that African countries are negotiating as a bloc, pushing for legally binding measures that ensure equity in pandemic response.
Pathogen sharing, crucial for developing diagnostic tests, vaccines, and therapeutics during outbreaks, should be a central component of the agreement, ensuring timely access for all parties involved. This would address the current challenges faced in accessing pathogen-related information and samples, thereby strengthening global pandemic preparedness and response.