The World Health Organization (WHO) has finalized a legally binding treaty intended to improve the global response to pandemics and mitigate issues experienced during the COVID-19 crisis. The agreement was reached after three years of negotiations and aims to foster collaboration among nations to effectively tackle health emergencies.
WHO Establishes Groundbreaking Pandemic Treaty for Future Preparedness
WHO Establishes Groundbreaking Pandemic Treaty for Future Preparedness
A legally binding agreement reached by WHO aims to better prepare for future pandemics and enhance global health cooperation.
The treaty includes crucial provisions for rapid data sharing on emerging health threats, facilitating quicker development of treatments and vaccines by scientists and pharmaceutical companies. This is a significant shift as, for the first time, the WHO will oversee global supply chains for critical personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gowns.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the agreement as a pivotal step in creating a safer world and demonstrated the power of multilateralism in a divided global landscape. "Countries have shown they can unite in response to common threats," he remarked.
This historic treaty, finalized in recent discussions, reflects the second major international agreement in the WHO's 75 years, the first being the tobacco control pact of 2003. The treaty still requires formal ratification at the upcoming World Health Assembly next month.
Notably, US representatives were absent from the final negotiations after the country's announcement of withdrawal from the organization. Therefore, the US will not be bound by the agreement once it formally exits in 2026.
Central to the treaty is the commitment to equitable access to pandemic-related medications. Countries must ensure availability of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics during outbreaks. Manufacturers participating in the global health efforts will be required to allocate a minimum of 20% of their production to the WHO, with at least 10% to be donated while the remaining must be provided at accessible prices.
Moreover, the agreement promotes the transfer of health technologies to developing nations, emphasizing a mutually agreed approach. This aspect had sparked considerable debate, as many developing countries expressed frustration over the inequities witnessed during the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
At the heart of the treaty is the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) designed to expedite the sharing of critical data between pharmaceutical companies, allowing quicker development of necessary medications in response to potential health crises.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the agreement as a pivotal step in creating a safer world and demonstrated the power of multilateralism in a divided global landscape. "Countries have shown they can unite in response to common threats," he remarked.
This historic treaty, finalized in recent discussions, reflects the second major international agreement in the WHO's 75 years, the first being the tobacco control pact of 2003. The treaty still requires formal ratification at the upcoming World Health Assembly next month.
Notably, US representatives were absent from the final negotiations after the country's announcement of withdrawal from the organization. Therefore, the US will not be bound by the agreement once it formally exits in 2026.
Central to the treaty is the commitment to equitable access to pandemic-related medications. Countries must ensure availability of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics during outbreaks. Manufacturers participating in the global health efforts will be required to allocate a minimum of 20% of their production to the WHO, with at least 10% to be donated while the remaining must be provided at accessible prices.
Moreover, the agreement promotes the transfer of health technologies to developing nations, emphasizing a mutually agreed approach. This aspect had sparked considerable debate, as many developing countries expressed frustration over the inequities witnessed during the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
At the heart of the treaty is the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) designed to expedite the sharing of critical data between pharmaceutical companies, allowing quicker development of necessary medications in response to potential health crises.
