Years of negotiations culminated early yesterday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle pandemics, aimed at avoiding mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After more than three years of talks and one last session, delegates at the WHO’s headquarters sealed the deal at about 2am.
“Tonight marks a significant milestone in our shared journey towards a safer world,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Photo: AFP
Five years after the emergence of COVID-19, which killed millions of people, devastated economies and upturned health systems, urgency hung over the talks.
Right until the last minute, disagreement lingered over a few thorny issues.
Negotiators stumbled over the agreement’s Article 11, which deals with transferring technology for pandemic health products to developing nations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, poorer states accused rich nations of hoarding vaccines and tests.
Countries with large pharmaceutical industries have strenuously opposed the idea of mandatory tech transfers, insisting they must be voluntary.
However, it appeared that the obstacle could be overcome by adding that any transfer needed to be “mutually agreed.”
The core of the agreement is a proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System, aimed at allowing the swift sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies, enabling them to quickly start working on pandemic-fighting products.
In the end, the 32-page agreement was entirely highlighted in green, indicating that all of it had been fully approved by WHO member states.
“It’s adopted,” negotiations cochair Anne-Claire Amprou said. “In drafting this historic agreement, the countries of the world have demonstrated their shared commitment to preventing and protecting everyone, everywhere, from future pandemic threats.”
Congratulations poured in.
“Excellent news from Geneva,” EU President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X. “We have learnt the lessons of COVID. To beat a pandemic, you need tests, treatments and vaccines. And you equally need solidarity and global cooperation.”
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