Countries launch WHO pandemic accord talks

World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed Wednesday to start work on building a new international accord setting out how to handle the next global pandemic.

Countries adopted a resolution at a special meeting in Geneva, launching the process that it is hoped should result in a new agreement on pandemics.

WHO SPECIAL SESSION ON PANDEMIC 

The three-day meeting of the World Health Assembly – the WHO’s decision-making body comprising all 194 member states – was an unprecedented special session on how to handle the next pandemic.

Countries agreed to establish an intergovernmental negotiating body “to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instruments on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response”.

WHO ASSEMBLY TALKS GATHERING 

The body’s first meeting must be no later than March 1 next year to elect two co-chairs and four vice-chairs.

A progress report will be presented at the regular World Health Assembly annual gathering in 2023, with the final outcome presented for consideration at the 2024 WHA.

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TALKS FOR RESPONSE ON FUTURE PANDEMICS 

“We need a game-changer in our global health architecture so that the international community can respond to future pandemics collectively, effectively and immediately,” said Lotte Knudsen, the EU’s ambassador in Geneva, said in a statement. 

“Today’s decision of the World Health Assembly will therefore make history. The situation and our citizens demand it: we need to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response if we do not want to find ourselves in a similar situation in the future.”

© Agence France-Presse