World agrees pandemic accord for tackling outbreaks of disease
Share this @internewscast.com

A pandemic agreement governing how the world should work together to tackle future disease outbreaks has been adopted by global leaders after three years of negotiation.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said it was “a victory for public health, science and multilateral action”.

“It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats. It is also a recognition by the international community that our citizens, societies and economies must not be left vulnerable to again suffer losses like those endured during Covid-19,” he said.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement was passed with applause by delegates at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. The US will not be part of the agreement, having withdrawn from the WHO and negotiations after Donald Trump took office.

Plans for a pandemic treaty, governing how the world should respond to future global disease outbreaks, were first announced in March 2021. World leaders, including Boris Johnson, promised a “legacy that protects our children and grandchildren and minimises the impact of future pandemics on our economies and our societies”.

However, the initial deadline of the WHA in 2024 was missed amid mistrust between the global north and south. There were high levels of disinformation surrounding negotiations, including false claims that the accord would cede sovereignty to the WHO or give it the power to impose lockdowns and vaccine mandates.

In order to reach the agreement this week, some key points of contention have been pushed back for later talks. The issue of pathogen access and benefit sharing (Pabs) – or what countries can expect, in terms of access to vaccines and treatments, in return for sharing data on any novel bugs emerging in their territory – will be governed by an annexe to the treaty, to be negotiated over the next 12 months.

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response recommended an agreement of this kind four years ago after reviewing the international response to Covid-19. The panel co-chair, former prime minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, said the agreement should be considered “a foundation from which to build, starting today”.

She warned: “Many gaps remain in finance, equitable access to medical countermeasures and in understanding evolving risks. Don’t wait to get started. Dangerous pathogens are looming, and they certainly will not wait.”

The agreement will not open for signatures until the Pabs annexe is completed. It will then come into force after at least 60 countries have signed. However, it is already being seen as a key achievement for the WHO at a time of crisis, with lower funding after the US withdrew necessitating dramatic cuts.

Dr Teodoro Herbosa, secretary of the Philippines Department of Health, and president of this year’s WHA, said: “Now that the agreement has been brought to life, we must all act with the same urgency to implement its critical elements, including systems to ensure equitable access to life-saving pandemic-related health products.

“As Covid was a once-in-a-lifetime emergency, the WHO Pandemic Agreement offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on lessons learned from that crisis and ensure people worldwide are better protected if a future pandemic emerges.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Surge in STEC Infections Leads to Urgent 48-Hour Alert from UKHSA Following Seven Deaths

Health authorities have issued a critical 48-hour alert to Britons following a…

I used to eat two McDonald’s breakfasts daily and was addicted to takeaways, which made me balloon to a size 28. I’ve now lost 14 stone and look totally transformed.

A former junk food addict who lost 14 stone thanks to a…

New Connection Between Ultra-processed Foods and Lung Cancer Discovered

Scientists have discovered a connection between consuming substantial quantities of ultra-processed foods…

Men born in these months face higher risk of life-threatening mental health issues

Men born in the summer are more likely to be depressed, according…

Calls for UK Government to Allow Monthly 3-Day Leave for Condition Impacting 1.5 Million Citizens

Thousands of people are calling on the Government to guarantee paid time…

Harmful Chemicals in Common Coffee Machines: Why You Should Be Cautious

Your at-home coffee machine may be pushing you toward a cancer-related death,…

Scientists Identify the Age When the Body Starts Declining, with One Key System Deteriorating Swiftly

A recent study has suggested that we begin seriously aging as young…

Officials Alert Public: Rise in Insect-Borne Diseases as Rare Virus Infects First Human

A Maine resident has been hospitalized with the year’s first human case…

“How Japanese Walking Transformed My Fitness Beyond 10,000 Steps”

Today, more than ever, people are worried about how many steps they’re…

Health Tech Companies Support Initiative to Share Medical Records Across Multiple Systems

Major health tech companies have agreed to work with the Trump administration…

Researchers Identify Four Common Indicators of Psychopathy in Everyday Behavior

What makes a psychopath? In a quest to determine whether it comes…

7 Natural Methods to Reduce Body Temperature at Home

Hyperthermia Treatment At Home: Our body temperature increases due to a variety…