WHO chief calls decision to move forward with pandemic treaty ‘cause for hope’

Member states agreed to set up intergovernmental body to negotiate and draft treaty or other pact during special session

First meeting of the new body is to be held by March 2022, with an outcome to be submitted two years later

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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says there is still a long road ahead but the decision shows common ground can be found. Photo: TNS

Published: 7:25pm, 1 Dec 2021Updated: 7:48pm, 1 Dec 2021

Nations agreed on Wednesday to launch a process for negotiating a pandemic treaty or other international pact, a major step that could lead to sweeping reforms of global health if it succeeds.

The decision was reached on the final day of a landmark meeting of the World Health Organization’s governing body, which convened this week in Geneva and online for what was only the second special session in its history, to consider the need for such an accord.

“The adoption of this decision is cause for celebration and cause for hope that we all need,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in an address to member states at the close of the three-day meeting.

“Of course, there is still a long road ahead, there are still differences in opinion about what a new accord can or should contain. But you have proven to each other and the world that differences can be overcome and common ground can be found.”

Representatives of the WHO’s 194 member states at the World Health Assembly meeting agreed to establish an intergovernmental body to negotiate and draft a “WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response”.

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The future treaty or other agreement is meant to address weaknesses in the current global system and strengthen coordination on pandemic prevention and response. It could cover issues like access to vaccines and other medical products, data sharing, and the detection of emerging pathogens, world leaders supporting the treaty have said.

WHO chief calls decision to move forward with pandemic treaty ‘cause for hope’

Member states agreed to set up intergovernmental body to negotiate and draft treaty or other pact during special session First meeting of the new body is to be held by March 2022, with an outcome to be submitted two years later

Member states agreed to set up intergovernmental body to negotiate and draft treaty or other pact during special session

First meeting of the new body is to be held by March 2022, with an outcome to be submitted two years later