WHO countries extend talks on pandemic agreement

Members of the World Health Organization on Saturday extended negotiations on a landmark global agreement on managing future pandemics by up to a year, as the WHO chief warned that the next crisis was only a matter of time.

Two years of talks on a deal ended on May 24 without a finalized deal, mainly because of differences between rich nations and those that felt adrift during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The last day of the World Health Assembly (WHA) – the annual decision-making meeting of the 194 WHO member states – allowed until next year’s meeting to reach an agreement.

“The historic decisions taken today demonstrate the shared desire of Member States to protect their own people and the world from the shared risk of public health emergencies and future pandemics,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“The decision to conclude the pandemic agreement next year demonstrates how strongly and urgently countries want it, because the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if.”

– Pragmatism and realism –

In December 2021, alarmed by the devastation caused by Covid-19 – which has killed millions, crippled health systems and collapsed economies – the WHA commissioned the development of an agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Negotiators were supposed to reach a final deal at this year’s meeting.

However, despite building momentum in recent months, only 17 of the draft agreement’s articles had been fully approved by countries by the deadline.

The assembly “made concrete commitments to complete negotiations on a global agreement on the pandemic within one year at the latest,” a WHO statement said at the end of the meeting in Geneva.

Precious Matsoso, who co-chaired the two years of talks, said in a closing press conference: “There was a spirit of pragmatism and realism. Most of them said they want an agreement on the pandemic as soon as possible – but it has to be a good one.”

The main disputes relate to access to pathogens detected in countries and to pandemic-fighting products such as vaccines derived from this knowledge.

In developing countries, memories remain alive of rich states hoarding vaccines. Switzerland was a country that destroyed more doses of the Covid vaccine than it had ever administered.

Other difficult topics were sustainable financing, pathogen surveillance, supply chains and the equitable distribution of tests, treatments and assays, as well as the means to produce them.

– Renewed rules for emergency situations –

The Assembly also agreed on amendments to the International Health Regulations, a legally binding framework for responding to public health emergencies.

Covid-19 exposed flaws in the system, first adopted in 1969 and last updated in 2005, with countries failing to respond when the WHO sounded the highest alarm available for the IHR in January 2020.

It wasn’t until Tedros declared the situation a pandemic in March 2020 that many nations — too late — swung into action.

The amended rules introduce a new, higher level of “pandemic emergency” alert.

It should be triggered before a wider pandemic develops and requires member states to take “swift” coordinated action.

WHO Emergencies Director Michael Ryan gave the example of a house completely surrounded by a forest fire.

“Although my house hasn’t burned down yet, it’s an emergency,” he said.

Tedros said the IHR changes “will strengthen countries’ ability to detect and respond to future outbreaks and pandemics by strengthening their own national capacities and coordination among member states.”

Ashley Bloomfield, who co-chaired discussions on the IHR amendment, said the experience of epidemics and pandemics, from Ebola and Zika to Covid-19 and mpox, “has shown us where we need better surveillance, response and preparedness mechanisms public health.

“Countries knew what had to be done and we did it.”

Tedros has repeatedly warned of unprecedented disinformation and misinformation surrounding the pandemic deal negotiations.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Geneva on Saturday to denounce the WHO and what they perceive as an attack on the sovereignty of states.

“We’re not trying to silence people, but what we want is a debate based on facts and good information,” Ryan said.

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