The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concerns on Monday that countries might fall short of the May deadline to finalize a legally binding treaty addressing pandemic response. This potential setback could have significant consequences for future global health initiatives, as the new agreement aims to enhance the world’s preparedness against emerging pathogens following the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed over 7 million lives, according to WHO data.
During an address to the WHO’s Executive Board meeting in Geneva, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of reaching a consensus on the pandemic agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR). He noted that several unresolved issues persist, and a failure to deliver on these commitments would be a missed opportunity with potential repercussions for future generations.
The WHO has previously achieved such an accord only once in its 75-year history, specifically with the Tobacco Control treaty in 2003. Negotiations for agreements of this nature typically span seven years, according to Roland Driece, co-chair of the group overseeing the negotiations. Given the two-year timeframe for the pandemic treaty negotiations, he stressed the importance of making significant progress promptly, considering the ongoing urgency surrounding pandemic prevention.
Despite the challenges in pandemic accord discussions, Tedros expressed optimism about the fight against HIV/AIDS, highlighting progress in aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). He stated that a pathway to achieving the SDG target of ending the HIV pandemic is emerging, offering a positive outlook amidst the broader challenges.
