This special issue of the WHO Influenza Newsletter marks 15 years since the adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework by the World Health Assembly in May 2011. It is a moment to celebrate the power of collective action when equity and partnership are placed at the heart of global health security.
The PIP Framework is the world's first and only functioning global access and benefit sharing system for public health. Its purpose remains as relevant today as it was in 2011: to promote the timely sharing of influenza viruses with pandemic potential and, on an equal footing, the fair and equitable sharing of resulting benefits, including vaccines, antivirals and diagnostics, to improve pandemic influenza preparedness and ensure that response to the next pandemic is rooted in, and guided by, equity.
During its 15 years of implementation, WHO's PIP Framework has operationalized the Partnership Contribution and used the resulting funds provided by influenza vaccine, diagnostic and pharmaceutical manufacturers that use the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) to support capacity strengthening in 86 countries across all six WHO regions, as well as at the global and regional levels.
Funds have been used to support capacity strengthening projects in areas as diverse as laboratory and surveillance, regulatory functions, risk communications, community engagement, pandemic planning, and disease burden assessment. By their nature, PIP Framework funds are limited, and as such, they supplement existing streams and, where possible, leverage new ones, through the Framework's strong approach to partnership.
The impact of the PIP Framework reflects this truly global effort. With the steadfast commitment of WHO Member States, GISRS, manufacturers and associations, civil society and other stakeholders, the PIP Framework has helped turn shared responsibility into tangible, improved pandemic influenza preparedness, laying a foundation for a robust, effective and equitable future pandemic response.
As this collection of articles aims to demonstrate, the PIP Framework is not only a critical instrument for pandemic influenza preparedness, but also a model for future approaches to global health security. Its experience underscores the importance of partnership, transparency, and, above all, equity, to drive public health objectives such as preparing for, and responding to, emerging threats.
