The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that global governments have agreed to continue working on a proposed pandemic agreement and to further refine the draft ahead of the World Health Assembly (WHA) beginning on 27 May to 7 June 2024.
Focusing on the theme of ‘All for Health, Health for All’, the 77th assembly, which takes place at WHO’s headquarters in Geneva, will involve a series of strategic roundtable sessions for WHA delegates, partner agencies, representatives of civil society and WHO experts to discuss current and future priorities for global public health issues.
Heads of state and governments worldwide previously issued a statement of commitment in March 2021, calling for global collaboration to prepare, prevent and respond to pandemics, which led to WHO Member States launching a global process to draft and negotiate a legally binding convention agreement.
Established in December 2021, the Member State-led Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) supports efforts to draft and negotiate a convention or agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Based on the principles of inclusiveness, transparency, efficiency, Member State leadership and consensus, the Bureau of the INB will guide the process and submit its outcome to the WHA.
Governments attending the meeting have agreed to continue both hybrid and in-person meetings ahead of the WHA meeting to accelerate work on critical issues such as proposed new global systems for pathogen access and benefit sharing, including life-saving vaccines, treatments and diagnostics, as well as pandemic prevention and One Health, an integrated, unifying approach that aims to balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general, WHO, commented: “During more than two years of intensive negotiations, WHO’s Member States have shown unwavering commitment to forging a generational agreement to protect the world from a repeat of the horrors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I welcome the determination that all countries have shown to continue their work and fulfil the mission on which they embarked.”
INB Bureau co-chair, Dr Precious Matsoso, added: “Getting this [agreement] done means getting it right, and the INB Bureau is committed to [helping] finalise a meaningful, lasting agreement.”