WHO chief fears a global pandemic treaty

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) fears a planned pandemic treaty that should protect the world from chaos such as at the start of the corona pandemic. The agreement must be adopted at the end of May during the meeting of more than 190 member states in Geneva.

A revision of the International Health Regulations, which govern the approach to emerging diseases, will also be adopted. “But I am deeply concerned that member states will not keep this promise,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva on Monday.

“It will take courage and it will take compromise,” Tedros said. “You won’t reach a consensus if everyone sticks to their position. Everyone will have to give something, otherwise no one will get anything.”

The design is controversial. This includes how information about new pathogens is quickly shared, who produces vaccines and medicines where and how they are distributed. Patent protection for vaccines and medicines is also a sticking point.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in December, citing lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic: “The moral and medical catastrophe must not arise as a result of rich countries hoarding and controlling pandemic supplies. We must ensure that everyone has access to diagnostics, treatment and vaccines.”

Even if negotiations were successful and a treaty were approved at the WHO meeting, it would only enter into force if enough countries ratified it, and would only be valid in these countries. (sda/dpa)