In December 2021, the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the 194 World Health Organisation (WHO) Member States to the establish an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft an international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response - the Pandemic Accord. Since then, delegates have engaged in intense negotiations that are expected to culminate in a resolution presented for adoption at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77), in May 2024.
ESMO stressed during the penultimate, 8th meeting of the INB on 19 February, that people with a life-threatening disease, such as cancer, should have continuous access to life-saving services during and beyond health emergencies. The Covid-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus the impact of cancer treatment delays on patient outcomes because in many countries, healthcare resources had to be reassigned to pandemic response. Delays in cancer treatment are associated with an increase in mortality across all common forms of cancer treatment, while minimising system level delays in cancer treatment initiation can improve population level survival outcomes. It is therefore clear, that the urgent issues related to an emergency should not overshadow essential care.
The adoption of the Pandemic Accord at the WHA77 will not give it international legal effect until an as yet undetermined number of countries ratify, at which point it will become part of international law, binding those countries that have agreed to it.
ESMO stands ready to support countries in the implementation of the Pandemic Accord with regards to cancer care.