The Pandemic Treaty is on the rocks. Developing nations don't want to pay for the expensive buildout of a biosecurity system while all they get is a measly handout for sharing bioweapons
Adding two more weeks of negotiations was hastily agreed, as what was to be the final International Negotiating Body session just ended.
Newsletter Edition #77 [Treaty Talks].
Mar 29, 2024
Forgive our penchant to find meaning in chaos. Indulge us some more, as we try to put together emerging indications from the swirling dynamics in the negotiations towards a pandemic agreement.
After a slow, and somewhat rough, fortnight of discussions, WHO member states agreed to buy more time to conclude the negotiations for a Pandemic Agreement by May 2024.
So while the limits of multilateralism in global health are fraying under pressure, it is still too early to write off this process. But be sure, if you hear folks say “soft landing” or “plan B”, to read this is as a euphemism for “collective failure”…
At the end of the roller-coaster ride, that the past two weeks of this meeting have been, there were many moments replete with uncertainty and pessimism both among diplomats and among others in this process. But international treaty-making requires time, observers point out. And a negotiation as complex and multi-layered as this one, countries always had an uphill battle against time…
One of the biggest disappointments from the CoV2 bioweapon was that it did little in Africa. With millions on HCQ and IVM the virus had little impact and uptake of the jab was in the single digits. Wouldn't it be nice if Africa and other 3rd worlders end up scuttling the so called Treaty.
They say you can't fight "City Hall." Well, some people are - and are doing pretty good in their fight.
But, never forget, these people don't fight fair. And they are clearly committed to their program, which they've been working on for many years.
P.S. They should have let Dr. Nass keep her medical license. If they had, she might not be playing the role of Luke Skywalker in fighting the Evil Empire.