Schwalbe Nina, Lehtimaki Susanna, Hannon Elliot
Department of Research, Spark Street Advisors, New York, NY, USA.
O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
Glob Public Health. 2025 Dec;20(1):2522916. doi: 10.1080/17441692.2025.2522916. Epub 2025 Jun 30.
This article examines efforts to develop a pandemic treaty through World Health Organization member state agreement from 2021 to 2025, focusing on challenges during the process. The COVID-19 pandemic showed the critical need for strong global agreements to prepare for and respond to health crises, with relevance for policymakers and researchers. Drawing on observations as invited stakeholders, relevant literature, official documents, and reports from other stakeholders, we identify key patterns, themes, and challenges, particularly the competing priorities of countries and difficulties in reaching consensus. Barriers that slowed progress include uneven political commitment, lack of transparency, and exclusion of key stakeholders, which hindered agreements and limited the treaty's potential to address global health threats. Our analysis highlights practical steps for future negotiations, including stronger political engagement, better coordination, greater transparency, and ensuring a broader range of voices and stakeholders are included in the process. Learning from these lessons will be critical for improving global pandemic preparedness and addressing future health challenges.
本文探讨了2021年至2025年期间通过世界卫生组织成员国协议制定大流行条约的努力，重点关注这一过程中的挑战。新冠疫情表明，迫切需要达成强有力的全球协议，以防范和应对健康危机，这对政策制定者和研究人员具有重要意义。作为受邀利益相关方，我们基于观察、相关文献、官方文件以及其他利益相关方的报告，确定了关键模式、主题和挑战，尤其是各国相互竞争的优先事项以及达成共识的困难。阻碍进展的因素包括政治承诺不均衡、缺乏透明度以及关键利益相关方被排除在外，这些因素阻碍了协议的达成，并限制了该条约应对全球健康威胁的潜力。我们的分析突出了未来谈判的实际步骤，包括加强政治参与、更好地协调、提高透明度，以及确保在这一过程中纳入更广泛的声音和利益相关方。吸取这些经验教训对于提高全球大流行防范能力和应对未来健康挑战至关重要。
