Intense negotiations and differing opinions among global health organisations regarding establishing and managing a financing mechanism for pandemic preparedness and response in the new Pandemic Treaty are ongoing.
A recent Lancet article outlines the intense negotiations leading up to the World Health Assembly in May 2024 regarding the Pandemic Treaty. Key unresolved issues include how the treaty’s provisions will be funded and which bodies will manage these resources. The treaty proposes a “Coordinating Financial Mechanism” with its governance details to be decided within a year after the treaty’s adoption.
Various global health organizations are contending to manage pandemic financing, including WHO, the Pandemic Fund at the World Bank, the Global Fund, and Gavi. Each has distinct capabilities and limitations, with debates centering on whether a new fund should be created or existing mechanisms should be strengthened. Prominent experts and African leaders argue for inclusive, equitable financing mechanisms that ensure timely and effective pandemic responses, highlighting the complexities and divergent views in shaping the future of global health financing.
