Advocacy Groups Call on EU to Foster Equity in Global Pandemic Agreements

Health advocates are pressing the European Union (EU) to enhance health equity principles in the ongoing discussions surrounding the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement. They caution that ineffective regulations could result in a recurrence of the vaccination disparities observed during the COVID-19 crisis.

The appeal was made on Tuesday in Abuja during a press conference facilitated by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Nigeria (AHF) in collaboration with other Civil Society Organizations. The focus was primarily on the negotiations for the Pandemic Agreement and the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex Negotiations.

Echey Ijezie, Country Programme Director of AHF Nigeria, emphasized the critical role of the EU in ensuring the inclusion of equitable provisions and called for a resolution to create a fair and effective agreement. He warned that a weak PABS could lead to a return to "vaccine apartheid," potentially jeopardizing countries’ health security.

Mr. Ijezie underscored the necessity for the EU to align with its publicly stated values of solidarity and fairness by advocating for mandatory benefit- sharing, legal clarity, and tangible accountability in the agreement.

He stated, "Developing nations are seeking binding commitments rather than non-compulsory frameworks," highlighting that enforceable standards are vital for fostering trust and fairness in global health initiatives.

He described the PABS Annex as essential, contending that it is not just a nominal aspect but a fundamental element vital for saving lives.

During the briefing, Romy Mum, president of Lawyers Alert, criticized the existing tendency for wealthier nations to maintain exclusive control over medical technologies. He articulated that issues related to pandemics and mortality should not be subject to commercialization, asserting the need for equity and justice prior to the ratification of the pandemic accord.

He remarked, "While gathering pathogens, we leverage contributions from across the globe. However, when it comes to drug diagnostics, there should not be a disparity in the benefits shared."

He also insisted that the global framework should not be endorsed unless the annex is restructured to ensure equity in drug access and diagnostic processes, arguing that the pathogens sourced for drug development span the entire globe.

Furthermore, he cautioned that pandemics do not recognize borders, raising concerns that without fair benefit-sharing, nations' efforts to boost local production capabilities and attain health sovereignty might be undermined.

Ijezie pointed out that advocacy efforts are zeroing in on key EU member states due to the bloc's significant influence over the negotiations. He believes that a shift in the EU's stance could help overcome the current impasse and foster a more equitable global pandemic framework.

Martin Egbanubi, National Secretary of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), stressed the universal right to healthcare, urging the government to prioritize the healthcare needs of Nigerians. He advocated for investment in local vaccine production to tackle health emergencies effectively.

Mr. Egbanubi encouraged African countries to commit to advocacy initiatives and invest in research and development to build self-sufficient production capabilities rather than relying on external assistance.

"We need to devise strategies for managing health crises; this cannot be left to chance since we may not be as fortunate during the next pandemic. Our ecosystems may not offer the same support," he articulated.

The discourse on equity in the pandemic accord is fundamentally connected to the unequal access to vaccines and medical resources that characterized the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, WHO data revealed that by mid-2022, over 70% of individuals in affluent countries had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, in stark contrast to fewer than 20% in numerous African nations.

Health advocates termed this discrepancy "vaccine inequity," indicating that it prolonged the pandemic by enabling the virus to spread and mutate in areas with limited access to vaccines. This led to widespread calls for more robust regulations to facilitate fair access to vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics during health emergencies.

In response, WHO member states initiated global negotiations for the WHO Pandemic Agreement in 2021, aimed at enhancing international cooperation, preparedness, and equitable access to life-saving medical tools in future health crises. The agreement was ratified by the World Health Assembly on May 20, 2025, marking a pivotal milestone for public health worldwide.

A significant focus of the negotiations is ensuring that countries sharing pathogen samples also receive equitable benefits from any resulting vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic technologies. Nigeria's experience during the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process underscores the global inequalities that health advocates are determined to rectify.

Nigeria's first consignment of vaccines, nearly four million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, arrived in March 2021 through the COVAX initiative, significantly delayed compared to vaccinations in numerous high- income nations that had already commenced earlier.

Experts note that the delays highlighted Africa's dependency on imported vaccines, reinforcing the demand for fair global health policies and greater local manufacturing capabilities across the continent.