The president of the World Health Organization (WHO), Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, last week called on the world’s countries to agree on a “pandemic treaty” that the WHO says will “help fight future pandemics” as negotiations draw to a close.
The new treaty, which includes a series of updates to existing rules purporting to address alleged pandemics, is described as intended to “strengthen the world’s defenses against emerging pathogens” in the wake of the alleged Covid-19 pandemic.
The WHO’s 194 member states must complete negotiations on the agreement by May 10 and then (if the WHO has its way) adopt it at the WHO’s annual meeting later that month.
But sources say there are still major disagreements. Moreover, the process is taking place behind closed doors, making transparency even more difficult.
This month of May 2024, 194 member states of the WHO will have their final votes on a new international ‘pandemic agreement’ (also referred to as a ‘pandemic accord’ or ‘pandemic treaty’) during this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA). The process takes place behind closed doors. https://t.co/Th3nC1FCnf
— Lizzie N (@LizzyRevelation) May 3, 2024
Director-General: “Please, get this done!”
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the meeting in Geneva:
– Give the people of the world, the people of your countries, the people you represent, a safer future. So I have one simple request: please, get this done, for them, the Director-General said, almost in despair.
Tedros Ghebreyesus called on countries that do not agree on the text to at least “refrain from blocking consensus.
One of the main points of disagreement between rich and developing countries is the issue of equitable distribution of drugs and vaccines to avoid a repeat of the “failures” of the Covid-19 era.
Politicians in countries such as the US and Australia have also criticized the legally binding agreement, arguing that it gives too much power to the UN. The WHO chief has rejected this argument, saying that “the treaty would help countries better protect themselves against outbreaks”.
The only time in the organization’s 75-year history that WHO member states have been able to agree on a legally binding treaty such as the “pandemic treaty” was a 2003 agreement on tobacco control.
