Zero-Draft

Why in News?

• The World Health Organization’s (WHO) has recently published a ‘Zero-Draft’ of the Pandemic Treaty, aiming to bring in Global and National-Level Pandemic Preparedness.

Highlights

• The treaty aims to address the challenges posed by pandemics and other global health emergencies.
• The zero-draft of the pandemic treaty was established based on recognising the catastrophic failure of the international community in showing solidarity and equity in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
• It calls for Increased global coordination and cooperation in the preparation for and response to pandemics and other global health emergencies.
• It emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems in all countries, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to ensure they are better prepared to respond to pandemics and other global health emergencies
• It calls for Improved access to essential health technologies, such as vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments, during pandemics and other global health emergencies.
• It calls for Increased investment in research and development of health technologies, particularly for diseases that pose a significant threat to global health.
• It calls for Increased transparency and sharing of information about pandemics and other global health emergencies, including data on the spread of diseases and the effectiveness of interventions
• The constitution of a PABS has been constituted under the WHO, making Genomic sequences of all pathogens with pandemic potential to be shared on an “equal footing” in the system.
• The PABS system Is an important tool for ensuring the responsible and equitable use of pathogens and their genetic resources in the research and development of new medicines and vaccines, while also recognizing the rights and interests of the countries and communities that provide these resources.