Strategizing Global Health Governance: Unpacking Opportunities and Challenges for Least Developed Nations Within the WHO Pandemic Treaty Framework

Overview

Journal Front Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2023 Nov 29

PMID 38026386

Authors

Shisong Jiang

Emmanuel Kumah

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Exploring the intricacies of the proposed WHO pandemic treaty, this paper underscores its potential benefits and challenges for Least Developed Nations (LDNs) in the global health landscape. While the treaty could elevate LDNs' access to vital resources, fortify health systems, and amplify their voice in global health governance, tangible challenges in safeguarding equitable access, protecting sovereignty, and ensuring compliance are illuminated. Concluding with targeted recommendations, the paper advocates for treaty revisions that assure resource access, safeguard LDNs' autonomy, and foster capacity-building. In essence, the paper emphasizes the imperative of genuinely empowering LDNs, crafting a pandemic treaty that establishes a more equitable, resilient, and inclusive global health future.

Citing Articles

Integrating animal welfare into the WHO pandemic treaty: a thematic analysis of civil society perspectives and comparison with treaty drafting.

Huang Y, Jiang S, Daminova N, Kumah E Front Vet Sci. 2024; 11:1421158.

PMID: 39606645 PMC: 11599984. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1421158.

Navigating Hurdles: A Review of the Obstacles Facing the Development of the Pandemic Treaty.

Sheerah H, Alzaaqi S, Arafa A, AlSalamah S, Muriungi N, Sampaio B J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2024; 14(3):580-585.

PMID: 38683485 PMC: 11442950. DOI: 10.1007/s44197-024-00233-5.

China and the WHO pandemic treaty: a dive into stance, underpinnings, and implications.

Huang Y, Jiang S, Kumah E Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1335751.

PMID: 38356946 PMC: 10865500. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1335751.

References

Sigler T, Mahmuda S, Kimpton A, Loginova J, Wohland P, Charles-Edwards E . The socio-spatial determinants of COVID-19 diffusion: the impact of globalisation, settlement characteristics and population. Global Health. 2021; 17(1):56. PMC: 8135172. DOI: 10.1186/s12992-021-00707-2. View

Phelan A, Sirleaf M . Decolonization of Global Health Law: Lessons from International Environmental Law. J Law Med Ethics. 2023; 51(2):450-453. PMC: 10881260. DOI: 10.1017/jme.2023.78. View

Fukuda-Parr S, Buss P, Yamin A . Pandemic treaty needs to start with rethinking the paradigm of global health security. BMJ Glob Health. 2021; 6(6). PMC: 8182745. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006392. View

Li Z, Jones C, Ejigu G, George N, Geller A, Chang G . Countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction - characteristics, drivers, gaps, and opportunities. Global Health. 2021; 17(1):28. PMC: 7968140. DOI: 10.1186/s12992-021-00678-4. View

Vasan A, Friend J . Medical Devices for Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review and Directions for Development. J Med Device. 2020; 14(1):010803. PMC: 7164506. DOI: 10.1115/1.4045910. View

Chaitkin M, McCormick S, Alvarez-Sala Torreano J, Amongin I, Gaya S, Hanssen O . Estimating the cost of achieving basic water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management services in public health-care facilities in the 46 UN designated least-developed countries: a modelling study. Lancet Glob Health. 2022; 10(6):e840-e849. PMC: 9090898. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00099-7. View

Faviero G, Stocking B, Hoffman S, Liu A, Bausch D, Galea S . An effective pandemic treaty requires accountability. Lancet Public Health. 2022; 7(9):e730-e731. PMC: 9323292. DOI: 10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00192-X. View

Abu El Kheir-Mataria W, El-Fawal H, Chun S . Global health governance performance during Covid-19, what needs to be changed? a delphi survey study. Global Health. 2023; 19(1):24. PMC: 10063951. DOI: 10.1186/s12992-023-00921-0. View

Kruk M, Gage A, Arsenault C, Jordan K, Leslie H, Roder-DeWan S . High-quality health systems in the Sustainable Development Goals era: time for a revolution. Lancet Glob Health. 2018; 6(11):e1196-e1252. PMC: 7734391. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30386-3. View

10.

Kavanagh M, Wenham C, Fonseca E, Helfer L, Nyukuri E, Maleche A . Increasing compliance with international pandemic law: international relations and new global health agreements. Lancet. 2023; 402(10407):1097-1106. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01527-1. View

11.

Siedner M, Kraemer J, Meyer M, Harling G, Mngomezulu T, Gabela P . Access to primary healthcare during lockdown measures for COVID-19 in rural South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis. BMJ Open. 2020; 10(10):e043763. PMC: 7536636. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043763. View

12.

Dickson-Gomez J, Nyabigambo A, Rudd A, Ssentongo J, Kiconco A, Mayega R . Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Challenges in Informal Settlements in Kampala, Uganda: A Qualitative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(12). PMC: 10298274. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126181. View

13.

Valensisi G . COVID-19 and Global Poverty: Are LDCs Being Left Behind?. Eur J Dev Res. 2020; 32(5):1535-1557. PMC: 7575865. DOI: 10.1057/s41287-020-00314-8. View

14.

Kickbusch I, Holzscheiter A . Can geopolitics derail the pandemic treaty?. BMJ. 2021; 375:e069129. PMC: 8621752. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-069129. View

15.

Hampton A, Eccleston-Turner M, Rourke M, Switzer S . Equity in the Pandemic Treaty: Access and Benefit-Sharing as a Policy Device or a Rhetorical Device?. J Law Med Ethics. 2023; 51(1):217-220. PMC: 10209987. DOI: 10.1017/jme.2023.59. View

16.

Juneja Gandhi T, Dumka N, Kotwal A . Is the proposed global treaty an answer for public health emergencies?. BMJ Glob Health. 2023; 8(9). PMC: 10503390. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012759. View

17.

Bhadra A, Mukherjee A, Sarkar K . Impact of population density on Covid-19 infected and mortality rate in India. Model Earth Syst Environ. 2020; 7(1):623-629. PMC: 7553801. DOI: 10.1007/s40808-020-00984-7. View

18.

Aghogho Evaborhene N, Oga J, Nneli O, Mburu S . The WHO pandemic treaty: where are we on our scepticism?. BMJ Glob Health. 2023; 8(6). PMC: 10276959. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012636. View

19.

Padma T . COVID vaccines to reach poorest countries in 2023 - despite recent pledges. Nature. 2021; 595(7867):342-343. DOI: 10.1038/d41586-021-01762-w. View

20.

Ebrahim S, Gozzer E, Ahmed Y, Imtiaz R, Ditekemena J, Rahman N . COVID-19 in the least developed, fragile, and conflict-affected countries - How can the most vulnerable be protected?. Int J Infect Dis. 2020; 102:381-388. PMC: 7833301. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.10.055. View