Q. “The success of global pandemic preparedness depends on reconciling national sovereignty with international solidarity.” Discuss in the context of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. (15 marks, 250 words)
Directions: Intro----- Reconciling national sovereignty with international solidarity + WHO agreement + Challenges-----Conclusion.
Introduction:
Briefly describe the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Aim – To strengthen global cooperation while explicitly safeguarding state sovereignty.
Main Body
Reconciling sovereignty with international solidarity
- Respecting national sovereignty – Preserves the authority of states to formulate domestic health policies and allocate resources according to national priorities.
- Recognises that countries have different healthcare capacities, epidemiological risks and development needs.
- Promoting international solidarity – Equitable access to seek fairer distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, etc.
- Information sharing, technology transfer, collective preparedness, financial cooperation, etc.
WHO Pandemic Agreement: A framework for balancing the two
- Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS)
- Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network
- Technology transfer and local production
- Sustainable financing
- Sovereignty safeguards - Article 22 clarifies that the WHO cannot direct national laws, impose lockdowns or mandate vaccination under the Agreement.
Challenges in achieving this balance
- Vaccine nationalism
- Unequal bargaining power – North-South divide
- Intellectual property concerns
- Trust deficit
- Weak enforcement
- Unresolved negotiations
Conclusion:
Give a balanced conclusion and suggest some measures.
