After more than three years of negotiations, the member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) reached a “principle agreement” on Saturday regarding a text aimed at better protecting the world against future pandemics.
“There is a principle agreement, subject to the final approval of the capitals,” said Anne-Claire Amprou, the French ambassador and co-chair of the body within the WHO that led the negotiations.
The representatives of the member states will return to Geneva on 15 April to seal the agreement, which is expected to be approved by the WHO General Assembly in May, where all 194 member states are represented.
The principle agreement followed a 24-hour marathon of negotiations. “This is a very strong signal. You are part of an incredible story that is being made here,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus after a sleepless night.
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One of the main points of contention in the approximately 30-page text was the transfer of technology for health product manufacturing. Latin American countries advocated for easier technology transfers, but countries with strong pharmaceutical sectors opposed mandatory transfers.
According to a negotiator, the issue has been resolved, although the latest version of the text was not yet available on Saturday morning.
Unequal access to vaccines, tests, and health technology was a major grievance of poorer countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In December 2021, two years after the pandemic began, WHO member states started discussions on a treaty to prevent and, if necessary, collectively address pandemics.
The completion of the text is a boost for the crisis-stricken multilateralism and global health system, which suffered a major blow from the sudden withdrawal of US support. Upon his return to the White House, President Donald Trump decided to retract the United States from the organisation.
