“MSF welcomes these new amendments to the IHR as an important first step towards addressing inequity in access to medical care and health products during global health emergencies. As a medical humanitarian organisation responding to emergencies globally, we are encouraged to see explicit recognition of the need to ensure access to health products during health emergencies, including in humanitarian settings.

As the INB negotiation is extended for another year, we urge WHO member states to remember the clear lessons learned from the past health emergencies, from Ebola virus disease to COVID, follow the example of the IHR amendments, and complete the package of measures needed for a just framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

In the next phase of INB negotiations, governments should build on the progress made and commit to stronger obligations on remaining issues, including ensuring transparency and transfer of technologies and know-how; linking people’s contributions to research and development with the requirement to ensure access to medical products; collaborating on production, supply, stockpiling and allocation efforts; and establishing a global mechanism for pathogen access and benefit sharing.”