At an extraordinary meeting of the World Health Assembly in December 2021, WHO Member States agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a new convention, agreement, or other international health instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. This instrument is expected to be submitted for approval by World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in 2024.
Meanwhile, Member States of the WHO agreed, through Executive Board Decision 150(3) (2022) and World Health Assembly Decision WHA75(9) (2022) to embark on a process to amend the current International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) (View meeting report).
This Member State-led process is facilitated through the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR), which runs in parallel to the INB. The WGIHR will propose a package of amendments for consideration by the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, 2024.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has convened three regional meetings in Washington DC to ensure that the most relevant national authorities are adequately informed regarding the INB and WGIHR key components, documents, deliberations, expected results, and to offer Member States elements for a meaningful participation. PAHO will continue to work closely with its Member States as both processes continue to advance.
The 4th Regional meeting on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) took place from 15 to 16 February 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland, with representatives from Antigua y Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Highlights
PAHO convenes fourth meeting of countries of the Americas on future global pandemic agreement
PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa, speaking virtually at the meeting, stressed that the participation of the countries of the Americas in the deliberations is "crucial" to ensure that the future agreement takes into account their needs and characteristics. He also mentioned that the agreement must ensure fair and equitable access to treatment, vaccines and personal protective equipment in the next pandemic.
Background documents
Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) +
Catalyzing Ethical Research in Emergencies. Ethics Guidance, Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Pending Agenda. View Summary
Catalyzing Ethical Research in Emergencies: Recommendations for health authorities
Fact Sheet Article 7: Health and care workforce
Fact Sheet Article 9: Research and development (Available in Spanish)
Proposal for negotiating text of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. 30 October 2023 French version
Briefing on the Bureau’s text 5 June 2023
INB Bureau Draft Meeting Report INB5 16 June 2023
INB Bureau Proposal Informal Meetings Drafting Group
INB WHO Strengthening HEPR WGIHR Financing Update. 23 June 2023
Lancet Opinion Article- Addressing inequity: the world needs an ambitious Pandemic Accord
Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (WGIHR) +
Bureau Provisional WGIHR timeline 2022–2024
WGIHR Bureau’s proposal for potential groupings of proposed amendments
Bureau On Screen Compilation Amendments. As of 19 April 2023
Proposed amendments and review committee technical recommendations
International Health Regulations (2005). Third Edition View in French
1st Regional Meeting
14 March 2023
9:00 - 12:30
-
Review and discussion regarding INB priority articles:
• Article 15. International collaboration and cooperation
• Article 19. Financing -
Presentation and discussion of other topics of the INB
-
Summary and key considerations and next steps on the INB
14:00 – 17:00
-
Update on the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)
-
Review and discussion of proposed amendments to selected articles of the IHR:
• Article 4: Responsible authorities
• Article 6-11 and Annex 2: Notification, verification, and provision of information
• Article 48-49: The Emergency Committee
17:00 – 18:00
-
Working group discussion on relevant subregional priorities
2nd Regional Meeting
10 -12 July 2023
MONDAY
9:00 - 12:30
Welcome Remarks.
• Agenda and logistic information
• Update on Member States Workstreams on Health Emergencies
• Group picture and coffee break
• Update on the INB process and next steps
• General view of the last version of the proposed text of the WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response
14:00 – 17:00
• Review and discussion regarding INB priority articles:
• Article 9. Research and development
• Article 11. Co-development and transfer of technology and know-how
• Article 12. Access and benefit-sharing
• Article 13. Supply chain and logistics
17:00 – 18:00
• Working group discussion on relevant subregional priorities
TUESDAY
9:00 - 12:30
-
Review and discussion regarding INB priority articles:
• Article 15. International collaboration and cooperation
• Article 19. Financing -
Presentation and discussion of other topics of the INB
-
Summary and key considerations and next steps on the INB
14:00 – 17:00
-
Update on the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)
-
Review and discussion of proposed amendments to selected articles of the IHR:
• Article 4: Responsible authorities
• Article 6-11 and Annex 2: Notification, verification, and provision of information
• Article 48-49: The Emergency Committee
17:00 – 18:00
-
Working group discussion on relevant subregional priorities
WEDNESDAY
9:00 - 12:30
-
Review and discussion of proposed amendments to selected articles of the IHR:
• Articles 12: Determination of a public health emergency of international concern
• Articles 15, 16, 17, 18 Temporary and Standing recommendations -
Key considerations and next steps on the WGIHR
14:00 – 15:30
-
Working group discussion on relevant subregional priorities
15:30 – 17:30
• Discussion of common issues and topics of the INB and WGIHR
• Improving participation of Member States of the Americas in the INB and WGIHR
• Closure
3rd Regional Meeting
30 October - November 1st, 2023
MONDAY, 30 OCTOBER
9:00 -12:30
• Welcome Remarks
• Agenda and logistic information
• Updates on Member States Workstreams on Health Emergencies
• Update on the INB Process and next steps
• Group picture
• General view of the last version of the proposed text of the WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response
14:00 -17:00
• Review and discussion regarding INB priority articles
17:00 -18:00
• Working group discussion on relevant subregional priorities
TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER
9:00 -12:30
• Review and discussion regarding INB priority articles
• Presentation and discussion of other topics of the INB
• Summary and key considerations and next steps on the INB
14:00 -17:00
• Update on the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005)
• Review and discussion of proposed amendments to selected articles of the IHR
17:00 -18:00
• Working group discussion on regional subregional priorities.
WEDNESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER
9:00 -12:30
• Review and discussion of proposed amendments to selected articles of the IHR
• Key consideration and next steps on the WGIHR
14:00 -15:30
• Working group discussion on relevant subregional priorities
15:30 -17:30
• Discussion of common issues and topics of the INB and WGIHR
• Improving participation of Member States of the Americas in the INB
• Closure
4th Regional Meeting
15 -16 February 2024
THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY
9:00 - 18:00
- Opening: GRUA – INB Vice-Chair - PAHO.
- Brief review of the seventh WGIHR meeting (5-9 February 2024).
- Update and Overview of the INB Process.
- Update on the WGIHR process and common issues between the WGIHR and INB.
- Review of Article 4. Pandemic prevention and public health surveillance; Article 5. One Health; and Article 6. Preparedness, readiness, and resilience.
- Review of Article 10. Sustainable production; Article 11. Transfer of technology and know-how; and Article 13. Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network.
- Review of Article 12. Access and benefit sharing.
- Update on possible regional statements from the Americas.
- Summary of progress and next day agenda – GRUA and PAHO.
FRIDAY, 16 FEBRUARY
9:00 - 18:00
- Review of Article 19. Implementation capacities and support; and Article 20. Financing.
- Review of Chapter III Institutional arrangements and final provisions.
- Review 13:00 || MORNING PLENARY (Continued).
- Draft Text on Article 9. Research and development; Article 14. Regulatory strengthening; and Article 15. Compensation and liability management.
- Update on possible regional statements from the Americas.
- Review of other articles of the Negotiating Text (CA+).
- Preparation for the Eighth and Ninth INB Meetings.
Colin Mciff, Deputy Assistant Secretary Office of Global Affairs USA
Ambassador Tovar Da Silva Nunes, Permanent Mission of Brazil in Geneva
Rodrigo López, Delegado para Asuntos de Salud, Misión Permanente de México ante la ONU Ginebra
Dr Simone Keizer Beach, Chief Medical Officer, St Vincent and the Grenadines
Countries of the Americas meet again to advance on the future pandemic agreement
Geneva, Switzerland. 14 February 2024
PAHO convenes health and foreign affairs authorities for second meeting on future pandemic agreement.
Washington, DC, 10 July 2023
PAHO brings together health authorities in the Americas to discuss future pandemic international instrument.
Washington, DC, March 14, 2023