After more than three years of negotiations, the World Health Organization (WHO) He achieved on Tuesday in Geneva the signing of an International Cooperation Agreement against future pandemics. The document seeks to improve the global preparation and response to future health crises, taking as an axis the just access to health resources and more effective coordination between countries.
“This agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. Collectively, it will allow us Adhanom ghebreyesus tedros.
The resolution was approved in commission with 124 votes in favor and no opposition. Iran, Israel, Russia, Italy, Slovakia and Poland abstained. The vote was about to face an adverse scenario, when Slovakia, governed by an ultra -nationalist administration, threatened to block consensus but, finally abstained.
The historical WHO agreement
The treaty arises in response to collapse of international cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemiawhich showed deep inequalities. In the initial stages, many developing countries faced Shortage of critical supplies: from respirators and diagnostic kits to vaccines, monopolized by the richest nations.
“The Covid-19 pandemic was an electroshock. He reminded us brutally that viruses do not know borders, that no country, however powerful, can face only a world health crisis, ”said Anne-Claire Amprou, a French ambassador for world health and co-president of negotiations.
With more than seven million officially registered deaths (although WHO estimates that the real figure could double) and global economic losses higher than US $ 12 billion – According to FMI- estimates, the impact of COVID-19 He forced countries to become aware of the need for a multilateral and supportive response.
A new health legal framework
The central point of the treaty is the creation of the mechanism of “Access to pathogens and benefit distribution”(PABS), which will allow an agile exchange of data and genetic material to the appearance of New viruses with pandemic potential. The measure seeks to avoid inequalities such as those suffered by South Africa when he shared information about the omicron variant and did not obtain in return a preferential access to adapted vaccines.
According to the text, the pharmaceuticals who adhere to the agreement must give the WHO quick access to a 20% of its vaccine production, treatments and diagnostic tests during a pandemic. Of that total, A minimum of 10% must be donated, and the rest offered at affordable prices.
The operational details of the PABS will be negotiated over the next two years. So that the treaty enters into force, At least 60 countries must ratify it.
The agreement also reinforces the “one health” approach, which recognizes The connection between the health of people, animals and the environment. “If one takes into account that 60% of emerging diseases are caused by zoonosisthat is, pathogens that are transmitted from animals to humans, this is obviously important, ”said Amprou.
In addition, the text encourages states to Strengthen their health systems, ensuring trained human resources and solid regulatory agencies. Multisectoral surveillance is also promoted that allows acting early against potential outbreaks.
United States, absent
In a political gesture that left its mark on the process, The United States did not participate in the vote or send delegation. The administration of Donald Trump, which returned to power in January, decided to withdraw the WHO country – a decision that will be effective next January— and completely disregarded the negotiations.
Despite these tensions and resistance of some sectors that consider that the treaty could limit national sovereignty, the agreement was qualified as a milestone by much of the international community.
Source: Ambito
