TEHRAN (Tasnim) After more than three years of negotiations, World Health Organization member states have agreed on the final text of a landmark accord aimed at preventing future pandemics and avoiding the missteps of the COVID-19 crisis.
- World news -Countries concluded the agreement during a marathon session at WHO headquarters in Geneva, finalizing the deal around 2:00 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Wednesday.
Tonight marks a significant milestone in our shared journey towards a safer world, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
The nations of the world made history in Geneva today.
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic caused millions of deaths and global economic turmoil, urgency surrounding the negotiations had grown, especially amid rising health threats including H5N1 bird flu, measles, mpox, and Ebola.
The final round of talks proceeded under the pressure of reduced US foreign aid spending and looming threats of tariffs on pharmaceutical products.
Agreement on the accords Article 11 concerning the transfer of health technologies to developing nations remained elusive until the final moments.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, low-income countries accused wealthier states of monopolizing access to vaccines and diagnostics.
While nations with large pharmaceutical sectors opposed mandatory technology transfers, the text ultimately included language specifying such transfers must be mutually agreed, allowing consensus to be reached.
Central to the agreement is the establishment of a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), designed to facilitate the rapid sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies so they can swiftly develop pandemic countermeasures.
All 32 pages of the final document were marked in green, signifying unanimous approval.
Its adopted, announced co-chair of the negotiations Anne-Claire Amprou, prompting a round of applause.
In drafting this historic agreement, the countries of the world have demonstrated their shared commitment to preventing and protecting everyone, everywhere, from future pandemic threats.
The finalized text will be formally presented for adoption at the WHOs annual assembly next month.
Late Tuesday, as negotiations neared completion, Tedros entered the discussions, expressing optimism about the drafts balance and emphasizing its potential to promote fairness.
He acknowledged the financial burden of pandemic preparedness but argued that the cost of inaction is much bigger.
Virus is the worst enemy, he said. (It) could be worse than a war.
The United States, which has unsettled the global health system with deep cuts to foreign aid, was absent from the talks.
Former US President Donald Trump had ordered a withdrawal from the WHO and the negotiations after assuming office in January.
Despite this, countries managed to reach consensus, which many interpreted as a triumph of global unity.
At a time when multilateralism is under threat, WHO member states have joined together to say that we will defeat the next pandemic threat in the only way possible: by working together, said Helen Clark, former New Zealand prime minister and co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
As celebrations continued into the morning, Eswatinis representative urged vigilance.
Whilst we celebrate this moment, we need not rest on our laurels, the delegate said.
The real work begins now.
