WHO Says Global Pandemic Treaty Will Be Concluded By 2025

Reuters (6/1, Rigby, Farge, Dugar) reported the World Health Organization on Saturday announced discussions aimed at “reaching a global agreement on how to better fight pandemics will be concluded by 2025 or earlier if possible.” The WHO’s 194 member states have been “negotiating for two years on an agreement that could increase collaboration before and during pandemics after the acknowledged failures during COVID-19.” The WHO “initially aimed for an agreement [last] week,” but talks “have been extended amid deep divisions between rich and poorer countries on issues like vaccine-sharing and preparedness.” The AP (6/1) reported that the WHO “said member countries on Saturday approved new steps to improve global preparedness for and response to pandemics like COVID-19 and mpox, and set a new deadline for agreeing on a broader treaty.” Countries “agreed by consensus” to amend the International Health Regulations, “which were last changed in 2005, such as by defining the term ‘pandemic emergency’ and helping developing countries to gain better access to financing and medical products, WHO said.” The organization “said countries have defined a pandemic emergency as a communicable disease that has a ‘wide geographical spread’ or a high risk of one, and has exceeded or can exceed the ability of national health systems to respond.”