In an effort to avoid a recurrence of the Covid-19 issue, the president of the World Health Organization asked nations to ratify the Pandemic Agreement this week.
The annual World Health Assembly, a meeting of the UN health agency’s decision-making body, is being held by WHO member states.
In his introductory remarks at the Geneva meeting, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “Member states will consider, and hopefully adopt, the WHO Pandemic Agreement.”
“This is a truly historic occasion.”
Last month, the agreement’s language was agreed upon by consensus following almost three years of discussions.
After US President Donald Trump decided to start the country’s one-year withdrawal procedure to leave the WHO, the US withdrew from the negotiations.
According to Tedros, “you worked tirelessly, you never gave up, and you reached your goal even in the middle of crisis, and in the face of significant opposition.”
He claimed that the arduous consensus sparked “joy, triumph, relief, and exhaustion.”
“I eagerly await your approval of the agreement.”
The agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response is expected to be adopted by the assembly on Tuesday.
It aims to better detect and combat pandemics by focusing on greater international coordination and surveillance, and more equitable access to vaccines and treatments.
The negotiations grew tense amid disagreements between wealthy and developing countries, with the latter feeling cut off from access to vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The agreement faced opposition from those who thought it would encroach on state sovereignty.
Countries have until May 2026 to thrash out the details of the agreement’s Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism.
The PABS mechanism deals with sharing access to pathogens with pandemic potential, and the sharing of benefits derived from them: vaccines, tests and treatments.
Once the PABS system is finalised, the agreement can then be ratified. Sixty ratifications are required for the treaty to enter into force. Source=Punch news
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