DNDi welcomes the historic consensus on the WHO Pandemic Agreement—a first-of-its-kind treaty that, if implemented, could help reshape global health equity by ensuring public funding delivers public benefit.
While the agreement reflects compromise and not all ambitions were met, it represents important progress and lays the groundwork for action toward global readiness and equity in future health emergencies.
‘For the first time in history, an international health agreement has explicitly acknowledged the critical need for governments to leverage the power of public funding to shape innovation outcomes,’ said Michelle Childs, Policy Advocacy Director at DNDi
Article 9.5 commits countries to develop policies on attaching public interest conditions to research and development (R&D) funding—an unprecedented move with the potential to transform how treatments, tests, and vaccines are developed and delivered during crises.
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the consequences of failing to tie public funding to equitable access. Without enforceable conditions, governments that invest in R&D for life-saving health tools may be unable to ensure they are successfully developed and made available for their populations and all who need them. If implemented effectively, Article 9.5 can change this dynamic—with governments giving themselves the power to guarantee that R&D spending ultimately meets public health needs.
‘Countries don’t have to wait for the agreement’s formal adoption in May to take action. This can—and should—start now,’ said Childs. ‘The real test lies in whether governments take swift, concrete steps to develop ambitious national-level policies that translate their commitments into meaningful impact.’
Public funders have immense power through the significant investments they make in research. Using that influence to secure equitable outcomes is critical—not only for their own citizens but also for people in low- and middle-income countries who are too often left behind.
We call on governments to act now and use their public investments to drive innovation and deliver equitable access for all who need it. Together, we can build a more effective global health architecture that leaves no one behind in the face of future pandemics.
