3rd meeting was held in Geneva in early December Intergovernmental Non-Goding Authority (INB3) for the preparation of a future Convention or other international instrument for preparedness, prevention and response to pandemics. It was actively attended by WHO member countries, including Slovakia. The final document is scheduled to be adopted at 77. The World Health Assembly (WHA77) in May 2024 in Geneva. The aim of this document is to ensure a better capacity to save lives by proactively strengthening global capacity to prevent, prepare and respond to pandemics and to restore health systems. The proposed instrument aims to address the systemic gaps and challenges recorded in these areas, both at national, regional and international level, by reducing pandemic risk, increasing preparedness and strengthening the coordinated and evidence-based pandemic response. Current proposals on how to achieve these objectives include, for example, timely sharing of information, scientific research and their results between countries, timely and equitable access to affordable, safe, effective pandemic response products, including diagnostics, vaccines, personal protective equipment and therapists, further strengthening public health capacity to ensure the availability of quality healthcare and continuity in the provision of basic health care during the pandemic, but also strengthening and maintaining a skilled workforce in the health and front line and its proper protection.
The Slovak Republic communicates and supports the creation of an unified reporting system for information sharing, as well as a stronger focus on vulnerable groups (e.g. school children, seniors, marginalised communities, etc.).
The fight against misinformation, false or misleading information is also a very acute challenge, the importance of which is even more important in times of crisis, such as a pandemic. We therefore welcome and support the inclusion of this section in the forthcoming document. The creation of an effective tool to quickly identify and eliminate disinformation would undoubtedly help to combat the negative consequences of a pandemic, states the Minister for Health, Vladimir Lengvarsky.
The Ministry also supports the concept of "One health" so that it is built on a comprehensive, cross-cutting approach. The concept of "One health" provides, among other holistic approaches, an opportunity to integrate a number of links between biodiversity and health. Coordinated, cross-sectoral approaches can help to address common problems caused by climate change or the increased risk of pandemics. Record of the meeting and freely available INB3 documents: https://apps.who.int/gb/inb/e/e inb-3.html