Equity in the Pandemic Treaty: Access and Benefit-Sharing as a Policy Device or a Rhetorical Device?

J Law Med Ethics. 2023;51(1):217-220. doi: 10.1017/jme.2023.59. Epub 2023 May 25.

Abstract

Equity is a foundational concept for the new World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Treaty. WHO Member States are currently negotiating to turn this undefined concept into tangible outcomes by borrowing a policy mechanism from international environmental law: "access and benefit-sharing" (ABS).

Keywords: Access and Benefit-Sharing; Access to Medicines; Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework; Pandemic Treaty; Pathogen Sharing.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • International Cooperation*
  • International Law
  • Pandemics*
  • Policy
  • World Health Organization