WHO Member States Adopt New Pandemic Treaty

Member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday adopted a new pandemic treaty aimed at avoiding the panic and disarray seen during the COVID-19 crisis.

The agreement was accepted without a formal vote on the second day of the members’ annual World Health Assembly in Geneva. As the conference chair asked whether there were any objections, silence followed, prompting him to declare the treaty adopted by consensus.

The treaty outlines measures for coordinated procurement of protective equipment during future pandemics and enhanced monitoring of diseases in both animals and humans. The treaty also provides for the transfer of medical technology, to ensure that medicines and vaccines can be produced in low-income countries.

However, several contentious details remain unresolved and are set to be negotiated separately over the next year as part of an annex to the treaty. These include a new mechanism to accelerate vaccine production and ensure equitable distribution to poorer nations.