Slovakia to challenge adoption of 'critical' global pandemic agreement
FILE PHOTO: Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives for the European Political Community Summit at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj/File Photo
GENEVA (Reuters) -Slovakia's COVID-19 vaccine sceptic prime minister said on Monday that his country would challenge the adoption of a potentially groundbreaking global treaty on improving pandemic preparedness by calling for a vote at the World Health Assembly.
After considerable disagreements were bridged, World Health Organization member states had agreed in principle on the text of the legally binding agreement in April.
If there is a vote, two-thirds of the 194 WHO member countries must vote in favour for the agreement to pass at the World Health Assembly committee on Monday, before formal adoption by a plenary session on Tuesday.
While the Slovak move is unlikely to gain much backing, supporters of the agreement see it as symbolically problematic following protracted negotiations.
A statement by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that the WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had called him and asked him not to demand a vote. World Health Organization officials were not immediately available for comment.
"I reiterated that the Slovak delegation is bound by the Slovak government's instructions to demand a vote on the pandemic treaty," the statement said, adding that if the vote takes place, the delegation was instructed to oppose the treaty.
"It violates the principle of the sovereignty of the member states and disproportionately interferes with the area of human rights," the statement said.
The draft accord addresses structural inequities about how drugs or vaccines and health tools are developed. For the first time in an international health agreement, it would require national policies to set access conditions for research and development agreements, and ensure that pandemic-related drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible.
It calls for the "widest possible international and regional collaboration" in a pandemic response, "while reaffirming the principle of the sovereignty of States in addressing public health matters".
The agreement had been seen by many diplomats and analysts as a victory for global cooperation at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. funding.
"It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, that — if implemented — could shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity," said Michelle Childs of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, a non-profit research group.
Fico, a pro-Russian populist, has long been a critic of the way the previous Slovak cabinet handled the pandemic. He has said he did not get vaccinated for COVID-19, and was charged in relation to a protest against pandemic restrictions. The charges were later dropped.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysian Reserve
an hour ago
- Malaysian Reserve
GSK invests $300,000 to help launch the Pharmacy Innovation in Immunization Research Collaborative (PIIRC) at the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy
PIIRC serves as a catalyst for innovation by supporting interdisciplinary research and real-world evidence generation focused on improving vaccine access, delivery and education. MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 6, 2025 /CNW/ – GSK is proud to announce a $300,000 investment in the Pharmacy Innovation in Immunization Research Collaborative (PIIRC), a new national initiative led by the School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo. This groundbreaking initiative reflects a shared commitment to expanding the role of pharmacy in Canada's immunization landscape and improving equitable access to vaccines across the country. Immunization has never been more critical. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the life-saving power of vaccines and demonstrated the essential role that pharmacists and pharmacies play in public health. Pharmacy teams have administered more than 20 million COVID-19 vaccines in Canada alone. Yet, there remains untapped potential to leverage the country's 11,000+ pharmacies as accessible, community-based hubs for broader immunization services. PIIRC aims to close that gap. Launched by the largest clinical pharmacy practice research group in Canada, PIIRC serves as a catalyst for innovation by supporting interdisciplinary research and real-world evidence generation focused on improving vaccine access, delivery and education. The initiative brings together researchers from the University of Waterloo, national and international collaborators, policymakers and stakeholders across healthcare and industry to advance pharmacy-based immunization strategies. 'As a global leader in vaccines, we believe in harnessing science and partnerships to tackle the world's most pressing health challenges,' said Michelle Horn, Country Medical Director, GSK Canada. 'Through our founding partnership with PIIRC, we are investing not only in research, but in the future of vaccine delivery in Canada—one that is more accessible, equitable, and community-centred.' Transforming Immunization Through Pharmacy Innovation The objective of PIIRC is to re-imagine the role of pharmacy in immunization—from vaccine administration to health education, monitoring, and system design. Areas of research will include: Expanding the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as vaccine educators, facilitators, and immunizers Overcoming barriers to access, especially among rural residents, older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and other underserved populations Leveraging digital health tools and technology to support clinical decision-making and personalized outreach Countering vaccine misinformation through evidence-based communication strategies and resources for healthcare providers Conducting economic analyses to examine the cost-effectiveness and public health value of pharmacy-based vaccine services Implementing science methodologies to ensure successful and scalable solutions across regions and populations This work will be supported by the School's extensive expertise in pharmacy practice research, health systems design, health economics, public policy, behavioural science, and communication strategies. 'As a leader in clinical pharmacy practice research and community pharmacy innovation, the University of Waterloo's School of Pharmacy continues to push boundaries,' said Andrea Edginton, Hallman Director, School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo. 'PIIRC is a natural evolution of our work in immunization, and GSK's partnership will accelerate breakthroughs that improve public health both in Canada and globally.' Impact Beyond the Lab In addition to funding innovative research, GSK's investment will also: Provide funding to support new interdisciplinary projects with direct policy and practice implications Train the next generation of immunization researchers, including PharmD students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows Facilitate enhanced access to real-world pharmacy data to monitor vaccine uptake and identify areas for intervention Establish a network of community pharmacies engaged in research, data collection and pilot projects Enable regular knowledge translation activities to ensure research is informed by and disseminated to industry, government and community stakeholders Support the creation of an Advisory Board that includes voices from pharmaceutical and insurance companies, regulators, pharmacy associations and the public Strategic Alignment with Public Health and Policy This investment directly supports the Ontario Life Sciences Strategy by demonstrating private sector leadership in supporting community-based immunization services. By investing in evidence that shows how pharmacy can help achieve broader public health goals—including for future vaccine program rollouts such as RSV—GSK is playing a critical role in advancing both healthcare outcomes and policy development. 'Our support for PIIRC is not just about generating data; it's about making a meaningful contribution to the future of healthcare,' added Michelle Horn, Country Medical Director, GSK Canada. 'We're proud to stand alongside the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in driving innovative, patient-centred immunization strategies that reflect our mission to get ahead of disease together and our commitment to doing what's right for communities and for public health.' Why Waterloo and Why Now? The University of Waterloo's collaborative ethos, track record of external partnerships and commitment to impact make it an ideal home for PIIRC. The University creates substantial opportunities for high-impact partnerships that bridge the gap between research and application. PIIRC helps shape policy and guides decision-making with timely, actionable evidence that reflects the realities of patients, pharmacists and public health professionals. GSK's early and decisive investment solidifies its reputation as a forward-thinking leader in the pharmacy space and a partner of choice in advancing vaccine innovation. About the University of Waterloo School of PharmacyThe School of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo is home to Canada's largest clinical pharmacy practice research group and is at the forefront of pharmacy innovation. Through interdisciplinary research and industry collaboration, the School is advancing pharmacy's role in improving health systems and patient outcomes. About GSK GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. Find out more at Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the 'Risk Factors' section in GSK's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2024, and GSK's Q1 Results for 2025.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Myanmar arrests 16, including 6-year-old, over general's assassination
YANGON: Myanmar authorities have arrested 16 people including a six-year-old girl over the assassination of a retired general shot dead in Yangon last month, state media said. Cho Tun Aung, a former ambassador to Cambodia, was gunned down outside his home on May 22 in an attack claimed by an anti-junta group calling itself the "Golden Valley Warriors." Myanmar's military seized power in a 2021 coup, plunging the country into a complex, multi-sided civil war involving pro-democracy guerrillas and resurgent ethnic minority armed groups. Most fighting is confined to the countryside and smaller towns but grenade and gun attacks on junta-linked targets are regularly reported in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city and commercial hub. The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said 16 members of the Golden Valley Warriors – 13 men and three females – had been arrested in various locations. Those held include the wife and six-year-old daughter of the suspected shooter, identified as Myo Ko Ko, the state-run newspaper said, without explaining what the girl is accused of. The report said Myo Ko Ko and another suspect rode to the general's home on bicycles and shot him before fleeing to a safe house. The junta has suffered significant territorial setbacks in recent months but analysts say it is far from defeat, with a powerful air force supplied with Russian jets and military backing from China.--AFP
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Russia faces struggle to replace bombers lost in Ukrainian drone strikes
LONDON: Russia will take years to replace nuclear-capable bomber planes that were hit in Ukrainian drone strikes last weekend, according to Western military aviation experts, straining a modernisation programme that is already delayed. Satellite photos of airfields in Siberia and Russia's far north show extensive damage from the attacks, with several aircraft completely burnt out, although there are conflicting versions of the total number destroyed or damaged. The United States assesses that up to 20 warplanes were hit - around half the number estimated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy - and around 10 were destroyed, two U.S. officials told Reuters. The Russian government on Thursday denied that any planes were destroyed and said the damage would be repaired, but Russian military bloggers have spoken of loss or serious damage to about a dozen planes, accusing commanders of negligence. The strikes - prepared over 18 months in a Ukrainian intelligence operation dubbed 'Spider's Web', and conducted by drones that were smuggled close to the bases in trucks - dealt a powerful symbolic blow to a country that, throughout the Ukraine war, has frequently reminded the world of its nuclear might. In practice, experts said, they will not seriously affect Russia's nuclear strike capability which is largely comprised of ground- and submarine-based missiles. However, the Tu-95MS Bear-H and Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers that were hit were part of a long-range aviation fleet that Russia has used throughout the war to fire conventional missiles at Ukrainian cities, defence plants, military bases, power infrastructure and other targets, said Justin Bronk, an aviation expert at the RUSI think tank in London. The same fleet had also been carrying out periodic patrol flights into the Arctic, North Atlantic and northern Pacific as a show of strength to deter Russia's Western adversaries. Bronk said that at the outset of its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia was operating a fleet of 50-60 Bear-Hs and around 60 Backfires, alongside around 20 Tu-160M nuclear-capable Blackjack heavy bombers. He estimated that Russia has now lost more than 10% of the combined Bear-H and Backfire fleet, taking into account last weekend's attacks and the loss of several planes earlier in the war - one shot down and the others struck while on the ground. These losses 'will put major pressure on a key Russian force that was already operating at maximum capacity,' Bronk told Reuters. Russia's defence ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment. PROJECT DELAYS Replacing the planes will be challenging. Both the Bear H and the Backfire are aircraft that were designed in the Soviet era and have been out of production for decades, said Douglas Barrie, aerospace expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, although existing planes have been upgraded over the years. Barrie said that building new ones like-for-like was therefore very unlikely, and it was unclear whether Russia had any useable spare airframes of either type. Western sanctions against Russia have aimed to restrict the import of components such as microprocessors that are vital to avionics systems, although Moscow has so far been comparatively successful at finding alternative sources, Barrie added. Russia has been modernising its Blackjack bomber fleet, and Putin sent a pointed signal to the West last year by taking a 30-minute flight in one such aircraft and pronouncing it ready for service. But production of new Blackjacks is slow - one Russian military blogger this week put it at four per year - and Western experts say progress in developing Russia's next-generation PAK DA bomber has also been moving at a crawl. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) said in a report last month that Russia had signed a contract with manufacturer Tupolev in 2013 to build the PAK DA, but cited Russian media reports as saying state test flights are not scheduled until next year, with initial production to begin in 2027. While it would be logical for Russia to try to speed up its PAK DA plans, it may not have the capacity, said Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the FAS. He said in a telephone interview that Russia is facing delays with a range of other big defence projects including its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. RUSI's Bronk was also sceptical of Moscow's chances of accelerating the timeline for the next-generation bomber. 'Russia will struggle to deliver the PAK DA programme at all in the coming five years, let alone accelerate it, due to budgetary shortfalls and materials and technology constraints on industry due to sanctions,' he said.
