# As WHO pandemic pact talks begin, poor countries on back foot
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-12-07
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Developing Nations Push for Fair Access in WHO Pandemic Talks
Meta Description: Developing nations push for fair access to treatments, facing challenges at WHO negotiations. Concerns for inclusivity and fairness mount amid calls for
URL: https://financedigest.com/as-who-pandemic-pact-talks-begin-poor-countries-on-back-foothtml

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By Emma Farge and Jennifer Rigby

GENEVA/LONDON (Reuters) – Global talks have begun on drafting new health rules for combating pandemics, and developing nations are lobbying for fairer access to treatments than they got during COVID-19.

But they worry that the odds of a favourable outcome from a scheduled 18 months of negotiations at the World Health Organization (WHO) are already stacked against them, as they lack the negotiating firepower of wealthier countries.

[South Africa](https://www.financedigest.com/inmobi-and-coca-cola-win-mma-smarties-south-africa-award-for-beat-can-campaign.html "InMobi and Coca-Cola Win MMA SMARTIES South Africa Award for Beat Can Campaign"), Pakistan and India were among countries that made formal requests, during an initial three days of talks that ended on Wednesday, to ensure the process is inclusive.

That challenge is “very daunting,” said an ambassador from a [developing country](https://www.financedigest.com/what-its-like-for-women-entrepreneurs-in-developing-countries.html "What it’s Like for Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries") who asked not to be named.

“The advanced countries have the requisite resources and can afford to have it covered and we cannot,” he said.

Countries’ relative negotiating clout is significant since questions of fairness – including access to vaccines and drugs and calls for transparency in governments’ dealings with pharmaceutical [firms – are set to be at the heart of talks](https://www.financedigest.com/top-north-east-financial-adviser-firm-talks-corporation-tax.html "Top North East financial adviser firm talks corporation tax").

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the accord a chance to make the world safer for generations, while labelling the distribution of [shots during COVID-19 as “vaccine](https://www.financedigest.com/fda-advisers-back-the-same-covid-vaccine-for-initial-shots-boosters.html "FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters") apartheid.

Dr Jaouad Mahjour, the WHO’s Assistant Director-General, Emergency Preparedness and International Health Regulations, said the health body had heard [small delegations’ concerns](https://www.financedigest.com/another-lockdown-is-the-top-concern-of-nearly-half-of-uks-small-businesses.html "Another Lockdown is the Top Concern of nearly Half of UK’s Small Businesses") “very clearly” and would be taking them into consideration.

Three sources familiar with the negotiations [say developing](https://www.financedigest.com/crypto-firms-will-develop-offshore-without-clear-us-rules-coinbase-chief-says.html "Crypto firms will develop ‘offshore’ without clear US rules, Coinbase chief says") countries are seeking a trade-off built into the treaty, which would reward them for sharing information about disease outbreaks with guarantees of access to treatments.

Pressure for a breakthrough on this may increase, they say, with [talks on a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 treatments deadlocked at the World Trade](https://www.financedigest.com/tax-credits-for-eu-electric-vehicles-to-dominate-mondays-trade-talks-with-u-s.html "Tax credits for EU electric vehicles to dominate Monday’s trade talks with U.S") Organization.

MARATHON TALKS

At the WHO, 18 months of tough negotiations on the 32-page document [lie ahead](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-financial-firms-tackle-the-challenges-that-lie-ahead-in-2021.html "How can financial firms tackle the challenges that lie ahead in 2021?"), with a deal targeted by May 2024. One diplomat estimated the talks alone would take up to 400 hours.

In parallel, [country teams are discussing setting up a G20 pandemic fund](https://www.financedigest.com/g7-launches-climate-shield-fund-some-countries-wary.html "G7 launches climate ‘Shield’ fund, some countries wary") and revamping the WHO’s existing health emergency rules. Experts following the latter will have to sift through over 20 proposals containing some 300 amendments.

To respond to the challenge, some Western countries like the United States have [appointed a lead](https://www.financedigest.com/leading-financial-advisory-group-bolster-offering-with-senior-appointment.html "Leading financial advisory group bolster offering with senior appointment") negotiator. U.S. representative Pamela Hamamoto said this week that despite progress, the draft was “not yet ready for our use”.

Meanwhile, “small governments will not be able to engage in (the) process as they will be totally overwhelmed,” said Clare Wenham, associate professor of global health policy at the London School of [Economics and Political](https://www.financedigest.com/uae-plans-long-term-economic-ties-with-israel-despite-political-strains.html "UAE plans long-term economic ties with Israel despite political strains") Science, who follows the WHO.

Many poorer countries lack technical [specialists to advise](https://www.financedigest.com/leading-global-trade-finance-specialist-becomes-adviser-to-gfg-alliance-firm-wyelands-capital.html "Leading global trade finance specialist becomes adviser to GFG Alliance firm, Wyelands Capital") on WHO matters within the Geneva diplomatic mission, where the U.N. agency is based. Instead, diplomats from smaller [nations split their time](https://www.financedigest.com/alpha-shop-a-national-loyalty-programme-supported-by-welcome-real-time-xls-solution-is-launched-by-alpha-bank-romania.html "Alpha Shop, a national loyalty programme supported by Welcome Real Time XLS solution is launched by Alpha Bank Romania") between health and other topics, like trade.

South Africa’s Precious Matsoso, co-chair of the pandemic treaty talks, told Reuters [countries could hire experts](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-aml-trend-foresights-for-28-experts-from-17-different-countries.html "2021 AML Trend Foresights for 28 Experts from 17 Different Countries ") to help, or band together for regional representation.

[(Reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva and Jennifer Rigby in London; Editing by Josephine Mason and John Stonestreet)](https://www.financedigest.com/london-reclaims-place-as-preeminent-global-financial-centre-for-the-first-time-since-2013-according-to-global-regulatory-outlook-report-from-duff-phelps.html "London reclaims place as preeminent global financial centre for the first time since 2013, according to Global Regulatory Outlook report from Duff & Phelps")


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