WHO member states have been negotiating it for two years.
The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed his belief on Tuesday that the so-called the pandemic agreement could be finalized by May 2025, writes TASR based on a Reuters report.
The International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness is supposed to increase cooperation during a pandemic, and the 194 WHO member states have been negotiating it for two years. The first attempt at its final wording was unsuccessful this year. Diplomats currently see room for an agreement, but commentators are warning of a possible rejection of the pandemic agreement by the administration of former US President Donald Trump.
At a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, Tedros recalled that WHO member states had committed to finalizing the text of the agreement in time for the 78th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA78) next May. “I’m still convinced they will,” he added.
Working with Trump
At the briefing, journalists repeatedly asked Tedros about future cooperation with the Trump administration. In response, the WHO chief stated that “the relationship between the WHO and the United States has been an exemplary partnership”. He added that the WHO and the US have been partners for many years and will continue to be so. He also expressed his belief that US leaders understand that The United States cannot be safe unless the rest of the world is safe.
An agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response adopted within the framework of the World Health Organization would allow countries around the world to strengthen national, regional and global capacity and resilience against future pandemics.
