Geneva [Switzerland], May 20 (ANI): Members of the World Health Organization (WHO) have voted in favor of a resolution calling for the adoption of a global compact to prevent future pandemics. The pandemic agreement and the resolution for its adoption will be discussed by the full plenary of the World Health Assembly on May 20. Immediately afterward, a High-Level segment featuring statements from Heads of State of various nations will follow, according to a WHO press release.
The vote in favor of the Pandemic Agreement resolution follows a more than three-year process launched by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic to negotiate the world’s first such accord addressing gaps and inequities in preventing, preparing for, and responding to pandemics.
In a press release, WHO stated, “This watershed agreement was adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution. It aims to foster stronger collaboration and cooperation among countries, international organizations like WHO, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to prevent pandemics from occurring in the first place, and to better respond in the event of a future pandemic crisis.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated member states for resolving to come together in the aftermath of COVID-19 to better protect the world from future pandemics. He said, “Governments from all over the world are making their countries, and our interconnected global community, more equitable, healthier, and safer from the threats posed by pathogens and viruses of pandemic potential.”
“I congratulate WHO’s Member States for resolving to come together in the aftermath of COVID-19 to better protect the world from future pandemics. Their work to develop this global accord will ensure countries work better, faster, and more equitably together to prevent and respond to the next pandemic threat,” he added.
The resolution sets out several steps for moving the world forward and preparing for the implementation of the Pandemic Agreement. This includes launching a process to draft and negotiate an annex to the Agreement establishing a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) through an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG). The results of this process will be considered at next year’s World Health Assembly.
After the Assembly adopts the PABS annex, the Pandemic Agreement will be open for signature and ratification, including by national legislative bodies. After 60 ratifications, the Agreement will enter into force.
Furthermore, Member States instructed the IGWG to initiate steps to allow the creation of the Coordinating Financial Mechanism for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, and the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network (GSCL) to “enhance, facilitate, and work to remove barriers and ensure equitable, timely, rapid, safe, and affordable access to pandemic-related health products for countries in need during public health emergencies of international concern, including pandemic emergencies, and for the prevention of such emergencies.”
According to the WHO, “Pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the PABS system will play a key role in equitable and timely access to pandemic-related health products by making available to WHO ‘rapid access targeting 20 percent of their real-time production of safe, quality, and effective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for the pathogen causing the pandemic emergency.’ The distribution of these products to countries will be based on public health risk and need, with particular attention to the needs of developing countries and those supported through the GSCL.”
The Global Pandemic Agreement aligns with the International Health Regulations, amendments to which were adopted by governments during last year’s World Health Assembly to bolster international rules for better detection, prevention, and response to outbreaks.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which coordinated and facilitated the process of drafting and negotiating the Pandemic Agreement. He also praised the work and excellence of the WHO Secretariat team, led by Dr. Michael Ryan and Dr. Jaouad Mahjour, which supported the Bureau and Member States.
He said, “An immensely talented, experienced, and driven WHO team was assembled to support the vision of governments to develop this historic Pandemic Agreement.”
“This group of individuals, representing so many countries and regions of the world, deserve enormous credit and thanks from the international community for what they have done to help make the world safer for future generations,” he added.
(ANI)
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