Published: Friday, May 24, 2024
Two years have passed since WHO countries began seeking a pandemic agreement.
Negotiations over a landmark agreement to handle future pandemics came to an end Friday without a deal, though countries stated that they would continue pushing for a solution.
Two years after COVID-19, which killed millions, destroyed economies, and crippled healthcare systems, countries have been trying to reach binding agreements on pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response.
The talks gained momentum in the last weeks but failed to meet the final deadline set before the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of the 194 member countries of the World Health Organization.
Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, WHO chief, insisted that the talks at the headquarters of the UN agency for health in Geneva had not been a failure.
He called on countries to view it as “a good opportunity to reenergize”.
He said, “The world still requires a pandemic agreement and it is important that the world be prepared.”
We’re not done yet
The Assembly, which will run from Monday to June 1, will review the situation and make decisions about what is next.
According to AFP, the co-chairs of the talks, Roland Driece & Precious Mattsoso, said that all countries wanted a final deal.
Matsoso said, “It is not the end.” He noted that the ministers who wanted to reach a pandemic deal would also be the ones making the decisions on next steps.
They are the ones that will say: “OK, you still haven’t completed this.” She said, “Please go back and finalise this.”
Driece stated that the draft document they would be sending to the assembly is “not an agreement document, but it’s a document – and we started from a blank piece of paper. “With nothing.”
He said, “I think they are very stupid to not finish it.”
Matsoso reported that 17 of the 32 pages had been agreed upon by all countries after a lot of arm-twisting and horse-trading.
Sticking points
“It is clear that we are in a pause.” The majority of member states are eager to continue and secure the gains, said an Asian diplomat who spoke on condition that he remain anonymous.
The text on the table is not enough. What will it take to bring the north and south together? It takes time.”
The main dispute centered around the access to pathogens that have been detected in a country and pandemic-fighting tools such as vaccines developed from this knowledge.
The topics of sustainable finance, pathogen surveillance and supply chains as well as the equitable distribution and production of vaccines, tests and treatments were also difficult.
The best thing to do is have a text that is inclusive. “Whether it’s now or later, doesn’t really matter,” said one African negotiator to AFP.
We want to continue with the process. “We really want this text.”
Steadfast commitment
As the discussions ended, the countries who spoke reaffirmed their commitment.
Pamela Hamamoto, US negotiator, said: “I am glad that we now have the draft to show for all the work we’ve done together.”
Ethiopia said African nations “remain steadfast”. Britain said that there had been “real progress” while the European Union was “entirely” committed to the success of the talks.
Bangladesh wants to achieve a “successful outcome that will serve humanity”, whereas Indonesia says “we should keep going until the end”.
Parallel discussions took place to revise the International Health Regulations (IHR), which was first adopted in 1969, and last updated in 2004.
Next week, the IHR talks will be discussed at the assembly.
The regulations define the rights and obligations of countries in dealing with public health emergencies and events that may cross borders.
c) 2024 AFP
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Pandemic talks come to an end without agreement (2024, 24 May)
Retrieved 25 May 2024
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