Global plan for dealing with next pandemic
Recently, the latest version of the draft pandemic treaty was shared at the World Health Assembly (WHA). In which it was said that by removing the provision related to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) from the ‘Pandemic Treaty’, humanity will face future pandemics.
- World Health Assembly is a decision-making body of the WHO.
- Although the first pandemic treaty drafts were based on AMR policy directives, all these entries are now at risk of being dropped after the first round of negotiations.
- The WHA began work on the pandemic treaty in December 2021. This was done after agreeing on a global process for drafting and negotiating an international instrument in this regard.
Pandemic Treaty
- It aims to prevent epidemics, save lives, reduce the burden of disease and protect livelihoods.
- This will be done by strengthening global capacities to prevent, prepare and respond to pandemics, and for the recovery of health systems
- It encourages an approach that is inclusive of all governments and all societies. Also, the prevention, preparedness and response aspects of the pandemic are determined.
Concerns-
- It appears to be an attempt to divert attention from the demands for better access to vaccines and treatments.
- Most of the provisions of the proposed pandemic treaty are already available under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005.
- WHO already has binding rules known as IHR.
- These set out the obligations of countries where thresholds for the effects of public health events are likely to be exceeded.
Antimicrobial Resistance: AMR
- Antimicrobial resistance refers to the acquisition of resistance by any microorganism (bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, anti-malarial and anthelmintic) that are used to treat infections.
- As a result standard treatments become ineffective, the infection persists and can spread to others.
- Microorganisms that have developed antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.
Source – The Hindu
