Supporting Equitable Access to Medicines in the WHO Pandemic Accord

In 2021, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the United States and Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to negotiate a new international instrument on pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response. The instrument, often referred to as the “pandemic accord”, aims to ensure the world is better prepared for future pandemics. A core goal is to prevent the extreme inequity in access to pandemic-related medical tools (including vaccines, diagnostics, treatments, oxygen, and protective equipment) that contributed to 15 million estimated deaths and $13.8 trillion in global economic loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last two years, Member States have been drafting and negotiating the accord text with a planned conclusion in May 2024.