After more than three years of negotiations, the World Health Organization has finalized the negotiation process for a Pandemic Accord, and it is now pending approval at the World Health Assembly in May. Amid rising challenges to multilateralism, increasing nationalism, and shrinking development assistance for health budgets, the adoption of this agreement should be seen as a significant achievement. Yet the road to this point also reveals missed opportunities.
Salud por Derecho has followed closely the negotiation process, particularly in its final year. We became the first Spanish NGO recognized as a relevant stakeholder, contributing with evidence and concrete proposals to the deliberations. We advocated for binding commitments, equity-driven governance, and transparency mechanisms that would ensure no one is left behind in the next health emergency.
Throughout this journey, we have published position statements urging the Spanish government and the European Union to defend public interest over private monopolies and to strengthen global solidarity. Our key interventions and analyses can be found here:
Salud por Derecho contributions to the Pandemic Treaty negotiations
To showcase where progress has been made since the pre-covid scenario (base scenario) and the comparison between the first draft published by the INB Bureau (Zero Draft), we have conducted a comparative analysis, examining five policy areas (Research and Development, Multilateral PABS System, Supply & Distribution, Technology and Knowledge Transfer and Diversified Regional Production). We assessed each scenario according to its level of ambition towards achieving equitable access, legal strength, and feasibility.
The findings are clear: the final text is an improvement over the pre-treaty scenario, establishing new mechanisms such as the WHO Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System and the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network, or acknowledging the need for access conditions in public R&D investments. But it falls short of the Zero Draft’s promise — particularly when it comes to mandatory equity provisions. Many commitments are now voluntary or postponed to future negotiations.
Spain has position itself as an actor that can broker differences and move towards a more equitable treaty. As it prepares to approve and implement this agreement, our work continues. A just and equitable pandemic preparedness and response requires more than good intentions — it requires rules that deliver. Salud por Derecho will remain vigilant to ensure that this Accord becomes a living instrument for equity, solidarity, and real global preparedness.
You can download the full analysis here.
