This is a brief summary of the opening session of INB12. More information about the progress of the negotiations will be known at the end of the this week.
Introduction
The co-chairs of the INB, Precious Matzos and Anne-Claire Lamprou, opened the resumed INB 12 and then handed over to the Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, for his opening remarks:
“Yesterday marked exactly three years since you adopted the landmark decision ‘The World Together’ that launched this process…As I have said I think the last time we met I believe that you can finalise the pending issues before the end of this year…Once again I urge you to be guided by public health. I cannot emphasise this enough. And convergence on outstanding issues is possible if you maintain your focus on public health.”
The co-chairs then opened the floor to Relevant Stakeholders where a total of eleven Relevant Stakeholders commented including, GAVI, Oxfam, International Federation of Pharmaceutical and Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA) and Third World Network.
Gavi
https://www.gavi.org/
“…our key points is that immunisation stands as a cornerstone of the pandemic prevention, preparedness and response safe guarding global lethal security and boosting resilience. Staring with prevention. Immunisation protects people from diseases and fosters population immunity reducing the spread of pathogens and associated public health risks. Moving to preparedness. Immunisation builds and sustains robust health systems, routine programmes that strengthen supply chains, surveillance networks and delivery platforms that are vital for identifying and containing emergent pathogens. Finally, on response. Immunisations ensure rapid scalability and accessibility of life saving vaccines during health emergencies however, we must ensure that the most effected at risk populations receive vaccines in a prompt manner.”
Oxfam
“At this stage of negotiation we feel that you are faced with a critical question on equity. Do you want an agreement that seriously and practically protects the health and economy of everybody on the planet or do you want to protect the financial health of pharmaceutical companies?”
IFPMA
(https://www.ifpma.org/)
“…the innovative pharmaceutical industry remains committed to achieving a Pandemic Agreement that works, addressing societal needs while enabling the private sector to innovate and respond effectively to future pandemics…The industry also has an important role to play in equitable access alongside its role in driving innovation that will create the pharmaceutical products needed to respond to the next pandemic outbreak.”
Third World Network
https://www.twn.my/
“At previous INB meetings we noted hurdles blocking pathways to equity. Now we are forced to say that these pathways are being closed…Meanwhile we see G7+ nations speak volumes about pandemic prevention. How we are to trust this call if there is no commitment to set aside health products early on for WHO to prevent outbreak becoming pandemics. Their opposition to traceability measures and access conditions fosters loopholes benefiting their industries over equity. Profits are prioritised over lives as seen during the covid-19 pandemic…What is the merit in text progress which is not creating a legally binding obligation to provide equitable access to health products? The status quo perpetuates inequity and neglects true pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in favour of surveillance and information sharing.”
Conclusion
The publicly webcast opening session lasted a mere thirty-eight minutes after which the INB moved into “closed” drawing sessions i.e. not open to the public.
There will be a stock take on 6th December 2025 to determine whether a Special Session of the WHA is possible ahead of the 78th WHA in May 2025.
