key: cord-0949577-b44mf15n
authors: Lehtimaki, Susanna; Allotey, Pascale; Schwalbe, Nina
title: Pandemic response requires early and robust verification
date: 2021-06-25
journal: Lancet
DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01223-x
sha: b63556a759d27d19ba873dd65d6b2bfa1955e7b1
doc_id: 949577
cord_uid: b44mf15n

nan

This report proposes the creation of an international treaty on pandemics, to be negotiated under the auspices of WHO, and a Global Health Threats Council to serve as an independent authority at the head of state and government level, endorsed by the UN General Assembly. 2 These instruments alone are inadequate. Effective compliance requires robust and independent mechanisms for reviewing progress and doing investigations that are empowered at the highest political level and armed with both incentives and consequences. On the basis of a review of institutional mechanisms and a mandate to enforce compliance with international agreements, 3 we propose several aspects to complement the proposal.

First, the Universal Health and Preparedness Review, currently planned as voluntary, should be obligatory. Using independent experts, similar to what is done for human rights treaties, would mitigate political pressure inherent to state-led processes and promote independence and transparency. Independent experts should be used to identify issues with compliance and to help countries by providing necessary support in preparedness.

Second, state parties to the treaty should not be able to block on-site investigations. Such investigations are crucial for identifying the origin of disease outbreaks and assessing preparedness and response. The model by the Committee on Prevention of Torture could lend itself to treaty monitoring and outbreak investigations on short notice or unannounced. Investigations should be stipulated as part of the treaty with a clear protocol, definitions, and assigned authority for the process to justify invoking an extraordinary power. Visits without state-specific consent should be done by an independent expert group reporting to the UN to help mitigate political pressure on any individual UN agency.

Third, any new mechanism should include incentives such as technical support and political stimulus. WHO can play a key role in this area by providing countries with technical assistance, normative guidelines, and tools to strengthen preparedness and response capacities.

Finally, the treaty needs to be based on several core principles: compliance to encourage state adherence to the agreement; accountability to trigger a high political response in cases of concern; independence to reduce financial and political dependencies; transparency and data sharing to ensure prompt access to information; speed to activate an investigation; assessment of capabilities including political factors and leadership; and incentives to motivate states to comply.

We declare no competing interests. This Correspondence is based on research funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The findings and conclusions contained within are those of the authors.

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. COVID-19: make it the last pandemic

Report of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response: making COVID-19 the last pandemic

Independent review and investigation mechanisms to prevent future pandemics. A proposed way forward