WHO member states draft pandemic agreement after 3 years of absence from US...Expected to be approved at next month's general meeting
Apr 16, 2025
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In December 2021, during the height of COVID-19, WHO member states established an Intergovernmental Negotiation Body (INB) to prepare for and respond to the global pandemic of infectious diseases. After 13 official meetings over the next three years, the draft proposal for the pandemic agreement was finalized. The final draft will be deliberated at the 78th World Health Assembly, which will be held on the 19th of next month.
The draft agreement prepared by INB includes establishing a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, pandemic prevention measures through the One Health approach, regional research and development capabilities, transfer of technology, knowledge, technology, and expertise to produce pandemic-related health products, mobilizing multidisciplinary health emergency response personnel, and establishing a global supply chain and logistics network. In addition, in recognition of the country's public health sovereignty, it stipulates that the WHO should not direct, change, or enforce member states' laws or policies.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the world has taken a historic step forward in Geneva today, showing that reaching an agreement on a pandemic agreement not only creates a landmark agreement to make the world safer, but also allows countries to work together against common threats in a divided world." I also thanked INB leadership and WHO Secretariat staff.
Meanwhile, the U.S. negotiator was reportedly absent from the discussion. In January, the Trump administration notified the WHO of its withdrawal on the grounds that WHO's decision-making was centered on China and that member states' contributions were used inefficiently.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
