The Twelfth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), held from November 4-15, 2024, continued negotiations on the WHO instrument for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) as agreed by the World Health Assembly in December 2021. The session was critical, as parties had until November 12 to determine whether there is sufficient consensus to convene a special World Health Assembly (WHA) in December to adopt the draft agreement. However, many contentious points remain unresolved, particularly around issues such as the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, and defining and integrating One Health principles within the Pandemic Agreement.
Discussions
The One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) definition of One Health has been widely supported, but some Member States at INB12 have called for clearer language to emphasize equity as a key factor in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR). Others believe equity is already part of the OHHLEP framework and caution that making it a formal legal term could limit flexibility.
To address these perspectives, an annex focused on One Health has been proposed, linked to Article 12, with possible additions to Articles 4 and 5. These annexes aim to outline how One Health will work in practice, including equity measures. While some Member States want these annexes finalized together for consistency, the African Group warns that doing so could slow progress, potentially delaying the agreement’s completion past May 2025.
WVA Statement
During INB12, the World Veterinary Association made a statement emphasizing the critical need for public health systems to incorporate animal health measures. The WVA highlighted that strengthening capacities across all sectors—including laboratory capabilities and human resources—is vital to building a comprehensive readiness framework for pandemic prevention. Additionally, the WVA offered its technical expertise and support to Member States and the INB Bureau.
The Road Ahead
While the session has seen progress, additional work remains. The INB Bureau is set to reconvene in December for INB13, followed by sessions in February (INB14) and April (INB15) to further refine the agreement.
As negotiations continue, a balanced approach remains essential, aiming to combine structured definitions with the flexibility needed to address a wide range of global health challenges. The WVA’s active engagement and readiness to offer technical support highlight the veterinary sector’s essential contribution to building strong public health systems for pandemic preparedness and response.
