By Morris Wambua

A Crisis of Health and Inequality

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the deep fractures in the global health system, particularly for developing nations like those in Africa.

While wealthier countries quickly secured vaccines for their citizens, nations across Africa struggled to obtain even the minimum supply. This disparity continues today, exacerbated by new outbreaks like Mpox, further revealing how global health priorities are skewed in favor of profit-driven elites. But beyond the health crisis lies a more sinister reality: the concentration of power in the hands of a few wealthy nations and pharmaceutical companies has wrecked global health systems.

The world's pandemic response, vaccine distribution, and even the proposed pandemic treaty seem designed to entrench this inequality.

Is this truly about safeguarding global health—or are we witnessing a global power play in the name of public safety?

The Global COVID-19 Pandemic Response: Who Profited?

When COVID-19 hit the world in early 2020, governments were quick to enforce lockdowns, mandate face masks, and implement emergency health measures. But it was the pharmaceutical companies that truly emerged as the major players, with one objective in mind: developing vaccines
to "save" humanity from the virus.

Almost overnight, the global narrative shifted from public health concerns to the rapid procurement and distribution of vaccines.

However, a deeper analysis reveals that the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines wasn’t just about saving lives. It became clear that vaccine distribution favored wealthier nations—those who could afford to pay a premium for early doses.

Meanwhile, poorer nations, particularly in Africa, were left to wait. By the time Kenya received its first vaccine shipment in March 2021, millions in richer nations had already been vaccinated.

The inequality in vaccine access raised questions about the true motives behind the global vaccine drive.

Were these vaccines distributed based on public health needs, or was this a calculated business
opportunity for the pharmaceutical industry?

The control of vaccine supply chains by a handful of global elites and corporations became a defining feature of the pandemic response.

Vaccine Hoarding: An Old Problem in a New Crisis

Vaccine hoarding isn’t new.

It’s a problem that has plagued global health for decades, with wealthier countries securing doses of essential vaccines for themselves while leaving poorer nations to fend for scraps.

The COVID-19 pandemic was no different, except that the stakes were much higher and the consequences much more deadly.

As wealthier nations like the United States, the UK, and members of the European Union stockpiled vaccines, Africa lagged behind. In the midst of a global crisis, the very countries that preached solidarity and cooperation turned inward, prioritizing their own citizens.

This me-first approach wasn’t just morally questionable—it was dangerous. As WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted, “No one is safe until everyone is safe.”

Yet, despite these warnings, little changed. The global vaccine supply was monopolized by a few key players, with developing nations forced to rely on inconsistent donations from COVAX, the global vaccine-sharing initiative.

This left Africa vulnerable, not just to COVID-19, but to future pandemics as well.

The question remains: is the world really prepared for the next global health crisis, or will we repeat the mistakes of the COVID-19 response?

The Pandemic Treaty: A Tool for Justice or Control?

Amid the chaos of COVID-19, the European Council proposed a global Pandemic Treaty, which was presented as a framework to prevent and respond to future pandemics.

The treaty, still under negotiation, was billed as a step towards global health justice. However, many believe that the treaty does more to solidify the control of global elites than it does to promote true health equity.

The treaty, in its current draft, is filled with vague language and loopholes, offering little in terms of concrete commitments to vaccine equity or addressing the root causes of global health disparities.

Critics have argued that the treaty prioritizes the interests of wealthier nations and pharmaceutical companies, leaving developing countries, particularly in Africa, to continue facing the same challenges they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One controversial element of the treaty is the One Health concept, which calls for a coordinated approach to managing human, animal, and environmental health.

While this sounds good in theory, implementing this in developing countries—already stretched thin in their healthcare capacities—remains a monumental challenge. Worse still, the treaty fails to address the core issue: the unequal distribution of resources and vaccines during pandemics.

Mpox: The New Face of Global Vaccine Inequality

While the world continues to deal with the long-lasting impacts of COVID-19, a new disease—Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox)—has emerged, yet again highlighting the unequal distribution of vaccines.

Although Mpox isn’t as deadly as COVID-19, its resurgence has been met with the same issues: wealthier nations rushing to secure vaccines while African nations are once again left at the back of the line.

Mpox, like COVID-19, is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. It primarily affects regions in Central and West Africa, yet these are the areas with the least access to
vaccines.

The Mpox outbreak further reinforces the idea that the global health system is rigged against Africa, with richer countries stockpiling vaccines and pushing developing nations to the margins.

One Health: A Concept That Leaves Africa Behind?

The One Health concept, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is one of the cornerstones of the proposed Pandemic Treaty.

The idea is that pandemics often arise from zoonotic diseases, and therefore, preventing future outbreaks requires addressing not just human health, but also animal health and environmental factors.

While this may sound progressive, the reality for Africa is far more complex. Implementing such an approach would require massive financial and logistical resources—resources that many African countries simply don’t have.

This raises questions about whether One Health is truly a solution for global health equity, or just another theory designed to benefit wealthier nations who can afford to implement it.

In a continent where access to basic healthcare remains a challenge, expecting African countries to adopt a One Health framework seems unrealistic without substantial financial and technical support.

But once again, the treaty does little to address this reality.

The Way Forward: A Call for Vaccine Equity and Global Reform

If there’s one lesson to be learned from both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Mpox outbreak, it’s that the current global health system is broken.

The way vaccines are developed, distributed, and hoarded by wealthier nations has only deepened global health inequities.

Africa must no longer be at the mercy of wealthier countries or the pharmaceutical monopolies that control vaccine production. It is crucial that the continent takes steps to increase its vaccine manufacturing capacity and reduce its dependence on foreign powers. But this will only happen if the global community is willing to prioritize true health equity over profit.

Additionally, the proposed Pandemic Treaty needs to be reformed to include binding commitments that ensure equitable access to vaccines and health resources. It must move beyond the vague language of solidarity and instead focus on concrete actions that will address the root causes of global health disparities.

Demanding a New Global Health System

The COVID-19 pandemic was a wake-up call for the world, exposing the vast inequalities in global health systems. Yet, despite the lessons learned, little has changed.

The pandemic treaty, in its current form, does little to address these issues, and diseases like Mpox continue to reveal the ongoing disparities in vaccine access.

Africa cannot continue to rely on a global system that prioritizes the needs of the few over the many.

A new approach is needed—one that prioritizes health equity, reforms the vaccine distribution
system, and ensures that developing nations are no longer left behind. The time for change is now, and the world must act before the next pandemic strikes.