Strategizing global health governance: unpacking opportunities and challenges for least developed nations within the WHO pandemic treaty framework

Shisong Jiang; Emmanuel Kumah

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1321125

Strategizing global health governance: unpacking opportunities and challenges for least developed nations within the WHO pandemic treaty framework

Front Public Health. 2023 Nov 6:11:1321125. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1321125. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Shisong Jiang¹, Emmanuel Kumah²

Affiliations

¹ School of Law, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
² Department of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.

Abstract

Exploring the intricacies of the proposed WHO pandemic treaty, this paper underscores its potential benefits and challenges for Least Developed Nations (LDNs) in the global health landscape. While the treaty could elevate LDNs' access to vital resources, fortify health systems, and amplify their voice in global health governance, tangible challenges in safeguarding equitable access, protecting sovereignty, and ensuring compliance are illuminated. Concluding with targeted recommendations, the paper advocates for treaty revisions that assure resource access, safeguard LDNs' autonomy, and foster capacity-building. In essence, the paper emphasizes the imperative of genuinely empowering LDNs, crafting a pandemic treaty that establishes a more equitable, resilient, and inclusive global health future.

Keywords: COVID-19; global health; international cooperation; least developed nations; pandemic treaty.

MeSH terms

Developed Countries
Global Health*
International Cooperation
Pandemics*
World Health Organization

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by the Social Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality of China (grant number 2020BS82), the National Social Science Foundation of China (grant number 22CFX089), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (grant number 2021M700573).