Question NW762 to the Minister of Health
05 April 2023 - NW762
Wilson, Ms ER to ask the Minister of Health
(1)Whether the Republic attended the first draft deliberations on the Pandemic Treaty of the World Health Organisation on 1 August 2022; if not, why not; if so, who was the Republic’s representative at the deliberations; (2) whether the Republic submitted observations and proposed amendments to the draft before the end of October 2022; if not, why not; if so, what were the relevant details of all the observations and proposed amendments; (3) whether the Republic attended the second draft deliberations and adoption on 7 December 2022; if not, why not; if so, who were the Republic’s representatives?
Reply:
1. The Pandemic Treaty deliberation are still in the conceptualisation of a Zero Draft framework and negotiations have not yet commenced. South Africa participated in discussions focussing on the development of the Conceptual Draft Document which is a framework and outline of the envisaged pandemic instrument that looks at background, methodology and approach to be used during the development of the negotiation tool. South Africa was represented by our Health Attache to Geneva and the United Nations, Ms Lebogang Lebese, who is based in the South African Mission in Geneva.
2. South Africa is championing the cause of access and equity in pandemic preparedness and response. Therefore, the technical input to the Conceptual Zero draft referred to above, was centred around strengthening of the framework in the areas of “operationalisation of the instrument and on achieving equity” with emphasis on seven types of equitable access on Tools; Essential Supplies (strengthening supply chains and shortening supply lines); Financing; Vaccines; Health Workforce; Disease Surveillance and detection of zoonotic and environmental risks; and Equitable ramping up and diversification of manufacturing.
3. The Pandemic instrument discussions have not yet reached the stage of discussing a second draft. South Africa participated in further discussion on developing the Conceptual Zero Draft framework and was represented by our Health Attache, who was also joined by our Ambassador Mr Mxolisi Nkosi, the South African Permanent Representative to the United Nations office in Geneva and other international organisations in Switzerland.
END.