Global Pandemic Treaty to Be Concluded by 2025, WHO Says
WHO announces plans to finalize a global pandemic treaty by 2025, aiming to enhance international cooperation and response to health crises.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that negotiations aimed at establishing a global agreement to enhance pandemic response will be concluded by 2025 or sooner if possible, according to a statement released on Saturday. Over the past two years, the WHO's 194 member states have engaged in discussions to improve collaboration and preparedness in the face of pandemics, particularly in light of the shortcomings revealed during the COVID-19 crisis.
Initially, there was an ambition to finalize the agreement this week, but the talks have been extended due to significant divisions between wealthier and poorer nations on critical issues such as vaccine distribution and readiness. However, amidst these challenges, countries have managed to reach a parallel agreement to update the International Health Regulations (IHR), which are legally-binding health rules. One notable addition to the updated IHR is the introduction of a new category called "pandemic emergency" to address the most severe and globally impactful health crises.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the decisions made as historic, highlighting the shared commitment of member states to safeguard their populations and the global community from the threats posed by public health emergencies and future pandemics.
Furthermore, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the significance of the agreement in strengthening measures to prevent outbreaks before they escalate into significant threats to public health and national security.
The revisions to the global health regulations are aimed at bolstering the world's defenses against emerging pathogens in the aftermath of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed the lives of over 7 million individuals, according to WHO data.
Overall, these developments represent a concerted effort by the international community to address the shortcomings exposed by the COVID-19 crisis and to strengthen global preparedness and response mechanisms for future health emergencies.
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