World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Monday that it is “now or never” for a global agreement on tackling future pandemics, after the United States withdrew from negotiations.
Speaking at the start of the 13th round of negotiations in Geneva, Tedros stressed that no country could protect itself from the next pandemic alone.
“It’s a case of now or never,” Tedros told WHO members, adding that he was confident they would choose “now” due to the stakes. He reminded attendees of the devastating toll of COVID-19, which left an estimated 20 million people dead and continues to pose a threat globally.
The talks, which began in December 2021, aim to establish an accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
This effort gained urgency after the Covid-19 crisis, which crippled healthcare systems and economies worldwide.
However, three days prior to the talks, the Trump administration officially informed the WHO of the United States’ withdrawal from the pandemic agreement discussions.
President Trump’s executive order had initiated a year-long process of leaving the WHO, citing the organization’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tedros reiterated the importance of global cooperation, stating, “The next pandemic is a matter of when, not if,” pointing to ongoing threats like Ebola, Marburg, and influenza.
He added that bilateral agreements would not be enough to tackle such threats, and expressed regret over the US decision, urging reconsideration.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) monitoring the process called for swift action, with the Pandemic Action Network emphasizing the importance of finalizing the agreement despite political challenges.
Spark Street Advisors, a health sector consultancy, warned that the global multilateral system is “under siege” and that member states must act now to prevent further setbacks.
While most of the draft text has been agreed, issues remain, particularly regarding the sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and the distribution of benefits like vaccines, treatments, and tests.
Co-chair of the talks, Precious Matsoso, expressed hope that new proposals would lead to a breakthrough, urging negotiators not to waste the progress made over the past three years.
The next week of talks is critical in determining whether an agreement can be reached in time for the World Health Assembly in May.
