Let’s talk about something that none of us like to even think about: pandemics. But before you stop reading, I have some good news! Over the last three years, the World Health Organisation has been negotiating a Pandemic Treaty, and they just came to a consensus.

I know it sounds complex, but it is really not. It will impact your future, so you should know what this is all about. Unfortunately, too often, the United Nations & its organisations are disconnected from us, the people. We don’t have a say, we don’t really know what happens, and we hardly impact it. But at Atlas, we’re working to challenge this system to change this, to make it more transparent, fair, and work for all of us. That’s why I’m sending you regular updates, and analyses on key news from the UN world. Pandemics are a survival threat for humanity, and the United Nations needs to put in place the infrastructure capable of curtailing it and avoiding health apartheid.

Background 🦠

Covid-19 killed over 7 million people worldwide, and 65 million are still struggling with long-COVID. The pandemic shut down our economies, weakened our social structures and led to an epidemic of loneliness.  

It didn’t have to be the case. We could have prepared and responded better. COVID-19 wasn’t just a health crisis, it was a crisis of solidarity and governance. The virus moved faster than our institutions. Instead of a coordinated response, we saw nationalism, hoarding, and corporate profiteering.

• Wealthy nations monopolized medical supplies: Rich countries struck advance purchase agreements and stockpiled vaccines, leaving low- and middle-income countries behind. At the height of the pandemic, 75% of all vaccines went to just 10 countries. This is not just selfish, it’s stupid: it enabled the virus to continue to propagate, unchecked.

• There was a global response (Covax) in the form of a global vaccine distribution mechanism, but completely underfunded and sidelined by national interest. 

• IP regimes prevented global manufacturing. Some rich countries & pharma companies refused to suspend IP rights for the duration of the pandemic, enabling more to produce vaccines faster and save lives. Remember, they not only funded the research through our taxpayers money, profited off it, but also blocked those who couldn’t afford it to access it for the duration of the emergency. 

We know future pandemics will happen. Just like we knew covid would. So we must be ready for it. Through a Pandemic Treaty.

The Pandemic Treaty 📜: What’s Being Fixed and What Isn’t

The good news is a Pandemic Treaty has been in the works for the last three years. In April, the member states of the World Health Organisation reached a consensus on a new treaty to prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics. 

What’s Good:

• Countries that share virus samples should get access to the vaccines and treatments developed from them through what is called the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS)

• The World Health Organization (WHO) would receive some vaccines and medicines during emergencies: at least 10% donated, and 10% sold at low prices.

• The treaty says fairness is important and encourages countries to work together before and during pandemics.

What’s Not Good Enough:

• There are no rules to make countries share technology, like how to make vaccines. It’s still voluntary. Do you think it will actually happen?

• Countries and companies can still put profit and power before lives, and get away with it.

• There’s no way to enforce the treaty. If a country doesn’t follow it, nothing happens.

• The U.S., one of the most powerful countries in the world, has left the negotiations (and World Health Organisation), weakening the whole process.

• The deal isn’t done yet. Some of the most important parts, like how to share medical discoveries, are still being negotiated.

What’s next:

• The current draft will be presented to the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2025.

• It will only become international law once 60 countries ratify it domestically.

• Further negotiations will continue for at least another year, especially on how pathogen sharing and benefit distribution are managed in practice.

What I think must happen now!

• The treaty is a step in the right direction: all countries must ratify it.

• However, it’s not strong enough to stop the next pandemic. Any Pandemic Treaty should be aimed at ending Health Apartheid. Pardon my French but unless we all respond together, we are fucked! 

  • This means the WHO must continue to work on new provisions to ensure we increase medicines manufacturing capacity globally, include all countries in preparedness efforts and share intellectual property rights, technology, and know-how during emergencies.

• The next pandemic is coming. This treaty needs to be strong enough to protect everyone, not just the lucky few.

I’d love to hear your feedback, so don’t hesitate to send me your ideas! I also want to mention that Atlas’ policy team is working on ideas on how to quell those survival threats, and needs all those willing to put their mind together! You can sign up to join here. 

Finally, I’m personally advocating for the next UN Chief to take on those policies, through my UN campaign that you can endorse here.

Onward,

Colombe