Member states of the World Health Organization, alongside the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), have agreed on a Panemic Accord.
After three years of negotiations, member states will now consider the accord for adoption at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May 2025, which aims to support low to middle-income countries in the event of another global pandemic.
The agreement mostly concentrates on the distribution of diagnostics, treatments and medicines — which allows WHO access to 20% of real-time production of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTDs) specific to the pathogen causing the pandemic.
Notably, 10% of this production with be donated to WHO, who will be responsible for the distribution or tests, treatments and vaccines to low and middle-income countries based on need.
FIND, a non-profit organisation championing access to diagnostics in disadvantaged areas, has also agreed to support this strategy.
“We’re incredibly proud of FIND Board Member and INB Co-Chair Ms Matsoso for her commitment and steady leadership building consensus around the proposed Pandemic Accord,” said Board Chair Dr Ayoade Alakija.
“At a time of immense geopolitical turbulence, where lives are being lost as harsh cuts to aid are implemented overnight, the progress on the pandemic agreement reflects that the world can still come together to plot out a positive path to progress. I call on all leaders to adopt the accord at the upcoming World Health Assembly next month.”
FIND's CEO, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, also stressed the importance of diagnostics in pandemic preparedness: "Diagnostics are criticial to identifying disease outbreaks, and will help pave the way for treatments and vaccines to control breakouts before they turn into pandemics."
"When adopted at the 2025 World Health Assembly, this accord will bring much-needed impetus to global plans and investments for pandemic preparedness, readiness, response and recovery," he concluded.
In the meantime, FIND plans to call on all countries to adopt the Pandemic Accord.