On Wednesday, 16 April, countries reached an agreement on the long-negotiated WHO Pandemic Treaty aimed at preventing future outbreaks and ensuring fair access to medicine and vaccines. The draft agreement is set to go to the WHO’s decision-making body in Geneva for approval in May.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus has praised the agreement, sharing that it has “also demonstrated that multilateralism is alive and well and that in our divided world […] nations can still work together to find common ground and a shared response to shared threats.”
In the treaty, WHO will have the right to hold 20% of the world’s provisions for distribution to poorer countries.
While the withdrawal of key countries such as the U.S. and Argentina has made reaching an agreement easier, it has also raised questions about the treaty’s effectiveness in achieving global cooperation during health crises.
The European Commission released a statement welcoming the Pandemic Agreement, highlighting the importance of continuing international cooperation and solidarity for global health.
The EU remains committed to collaborating with partners and stakeholders to create a stronger, more resilient, and equitable global architecture for future pandemic preparedness and response.
The decision to prioritise access to medicines, especially by allowing WHO to allocate 20% of global supplies to lower-income nations, signifies a shift towards a more inclusive and solidarity-based approach to addressing future health crises. It also acknowledges that no country can effectively manage pandemics in isolation.
However, the absence of major players such as the U.S. and Argentina may impact the treaty by preventing effectiveglobal coordination in future pandemics. This raises concerns about the consistency and enforceability of international responses when some of the world’s most influential health actors are not part of the agreement.
In conclusion, the WHO Pandemic Treaty represents a critical step in strengthening the global health system and providing a framework for fairer and more coordinated responses to pandemics. While its success depends on participation and implementation, it lays the foundation for future global collaboration.
