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The Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
WHO members adopt global pandemic accord, but US absence casts doubts
GENEVA: Members of the World Health Organization adopted an agreement on Tuesday intended to improve preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19, but the absence of the U.S. cast doubt on the treaty's effectiveness. After three years of negotiations, the legally binding pact was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva. WHO member countries welcomed its passing with applause. The pact was touted as a victory for members of the global health agency at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. foreign funding. 'The agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats,' said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The pact aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access. However, U.S. negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. - by far the WHO's largest financial backer - from the agency when he took office in January. Given this, the U.S., which poured billions of dollars into vaccine development during the COVID pandemic, would not be bound by the pact. And WHO member states would not face penalties if they failed to implement it. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed the World Health Organization in a video address to the Assembly, saying it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic with the new agreement. 'It has doubled down with the pandemic agreement which will lock in all of the dysfunction of the WHO pandemic response... We're not going to participate in that,' he said. LATE CHALLENGE The deal was reached after Slovakia called for a vote on Monday, as its COVID-19 vaccine-sceptic prime minister demanded that his country challenge the adoption of the agreement. One hundred and twenty-four countries voted in favour, no countries voted against, while 11 countries, including Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran, abstained. Some health experts welcomed the treaty as a step towards greater fairness in global health after poorer nations were left short of vaccines and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, that — if implemented — could shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity,' Michelle Childs, Policy Advocacy Director at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, told Reuters. Others said the agreement did not meet initial ambitions and that, without strong implementation frameworks, it risked falling short in a future pandemic. 'It is an empty shell... It's difficult to say that it's a treaty with firm obligation where there is a strong commitment... It's a good starting point. But it will have to be developed,' said Gian Luca Burci, an academic adviser at the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, an independent research and education organisation. Helen Clark the co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, described the accord as a foundation to build from. 'Many gaps remain in finance, equitable access to medical countermeasures and in understanding evolving risks,' she added. The pact will not go into effect until an annex on sharing of pathogenic information is agreed. Negotiations on this would start in July with the aim of delivering the annex to the World Health Assembly for adoption, WHO said. A Western diplomatic source suggested it may take up to two years to be agreed.
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
WHO adopts pandemic accord, but US absence raises doubts
GENEVA: Members of the World Health Organization adopted an agreement on Tuesday intended to improve preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19, but the absence of the U.S. cast doubt on the treaty's effectiveness. After three years of negotiations, the legally binding pact was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva. WHO member countries welcomed its passing with applause. The pact was touted as a victory for members of the global health agency at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. foreign funding. 'The agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats,' said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The pact aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access. However, U.S. negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. - by far the WHO's largest financial backer - from the agency when he took office in January. Given this, the U.S., which poured billions of dollars into vaccine development during the COVID pandemic, would not be bound by the pact. And WHO member states would not face penalties if they failed to implement it. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed the World Health Organization in a video address to the Assembly, saying it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic with the new agreement. 'It has doubled down with the pandemic agreement which will lock in all of the dysfunction of the WHO pandemic response... We're not going to participate in that,' he said. LATE CHALLENGE The deal was reached after Slovakia called for a vote on Monday, as its COVID-19 vaccine-sceptic prime minister demanded that his country challenge the adoption of the agreement. One hundred and twenty-four countries voted in favour, no countries voted against, while 11 countries, including Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran, abstained. Some health experts welcomed the treaty as a step towards greater fairness in global health after poorer nations were left short of vaccines and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, that — if implemented — could shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity,' Michelle Childs, Policy Advocacy Director at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, told Reuters. Others said the agreement did not meet initial ambitions and that, without strong implementation frameworks, it risked falling short in a future pandemic. 'It is an empty shell... It's difficult to say that it's a treaty with firm obligation where there is a strong commitment... It's a good starting point. But it will have to be developed,' said Gian Luca Burci, an academic adviser at the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, an independent research and education organisation. Helen Clark the co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, described the accord as a foundation to build from. 'Many gaps remain in finance, equitable access to medical countermeasures and in understanding evolving risks,' she added. The pact will not go into effect until an annex on sharing of pathogenic information is agreed. Negotiations on this would start in July with the aim of delivering the annex to the World Health Assembly for adoption, WHO said. A Western diplomatic source suggested it may take up to two years to be agreed.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
WHO members adopt global pandemic accord, but US absence casts doubts
GENEVA -Members of the World Health Organization adopted an agreement on Tuesday intended to improve preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19, but the absence of the U.S. cast doubt on the treaty's effectiveness. After three years of negotiations, the legally binding pact was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva. WHO member countries welcomed its passing with applause. The pact was touted as a victory for members of the global health agency at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. foreign funding. "The agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The pact aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access. However, U.S. negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. - by far the WHO's largest financial backer - from the agency when he took office in January. Given this, the U.S., which poured billions of dollars into vaccine development during the COVID pandemic, would not be bound by the pact. And WHO member states would not face penalties if they failed to implement it. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed the World Health Organization in a video address to the Assembly, saying it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic with the new agreement. "It has doubled down with the pandemic agreement which will lock in all of the dysfunction of the WHO pandemic response... We're not going to participate in that," he said. LATE CHALLENGE The deal was reached after Slovakia called for a vote on Monday, as its COVID-19 vaccine-sceptic prime minister demanded that his country challenge the adoption of the agreement. One hundred and twenty-four countries voted in favour, no countries voted against, while 11 countries, including Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran, abstained. Some health experts welcomed the treaty as a step towards greater fairness in global health after poorer nations were left short of vaccines and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic. "It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, that — if implemented — could shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity," Michelle Childs, Policy Advocacy Director at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, told Reuters. Others said the agreement did not meet initial ambitions and that, without strong implementation frameworks, it risked falling short in a future pandemic. "It is an empty shell... It's difficult to say that it's a treaty with firm obligation where there is a strong commitment... It's a good starting point. But it will have to be developed," said Gian Luca Burci, an academic adviser at the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, an independent research and education organisation. Helen Clark the co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, described the accord as a foundation to build from. "Many gaps remain in finance, equitable access to medical countermeasures and in understanding evolving risks," she added. The pact will not go into effect until an annex on sharing of pathogenic information is agreed. Negotiations on this would start in July with the aim of delivering the annex to the World Health Assembly for adoption, WHO said. A Western diplomatic source suggested it may take up to two years to be agreed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Slovakia to challenge adoption of 'critical' global pandemic agreement
By Olivia Le Poidevin 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.
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
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 - 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. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
