WHO Adopts Pandemic Treaty After Years Of Talks, But US Absence Raises Doubts

The legally binding treaty was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva after three years of negotiations, and WHO member countries applauded the passing of the pact.

The WHO adopted a pandemic preparedness treaty ensuring global access to medical supplies, with manufacturers reserving 20 per cent for WHO distribution.

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An agreement was adopted by the members of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday to prepare for future pandemics after the disjointed global response to COVID-19. But the members have doubts about the effectiveness of the treaty due to the absence of the US.

The legally binding treaty was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva after three years of negotiations, and WHO member countries applauded the passing of the pact.

The agreement was hailed as a win for members of the global health body, especially at a time when multilateral institutions like the WHO have faced major setbacks due to significant cuts in US foreign aid.

"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, news agency Reuters reported.

The deal aims to guarantee worldwide access to medicines, vaccines, and treatments during future pandemics. It obligates participating manufacturers to reserve 20 per cent of their pandemic-related medical supplies, including vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic tests, for the WHO to help ensure availability for low-income nations.

However, US negotiators exited the talks after President Donald Trump initiated a formal withdrawal process from the WHO, which began during his term in office. The US, being the WHO's largest financial contributor and having invested heavily in vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic, would therefore not be obligated to comply with the agreement. Notably, the pact carries no enforcement mechanism, meaning WHO member countries would not be penalised for non-compliance.

The agreement was finalised after Slovakia called for a vote on Monday, driven by its vaccine-sceptic prime minister’s push to oppose the deal’s adoption. Before finalising, one hundred and twenty-four countries voted in favour, no country voted against it, while 11 countries, including Poland, Italy, Israel, Russia, Slovakia, and Iran, abstained.

Health Experts Welcome The Treaty

The treaty was welcomed by some health experts, labeling it as "a step towards greater fairness in global health," as most of the poor nations during the COVID-19 pandemic had fallen short of vaccines and diagnostics.

"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 news agency Reuters.

Others underscored that the agreement did not meet the preliminary ambitions, and with no strong frameworks, it is susceptible to falling short in the 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," Gian Luca Burci, an academic adviser at the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, an independent research and education organisation, said.

The agreement will remain inactive until a separate annex on the sharing of pathogen data is finalised. According to the WHO, negotiations on this annex are set to begin in July, with the goal of presenting it to the World Health Assembly for approval. However, a Western diplomatic source indicated that reaching a consensus on the annex could take as long as two years.