Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Friday, urged countries to agree to an agreement to combat future epidemics as negotiations approach the end this month.
The agreement and a series of updates related to the rules for dealing with epidemics aim to enhance the world’s ability to confront new pathogens after the Covid-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of millions.
Countries are scheduled to conclude negotiations on the agreement on May 10 with the aim of adopting it at the annual meeting of the World Health Organization later this month, but informed sources say that there are still major differences between countries.
“Give the peoples of the world, the peoples of your countries, and the peoples you represent a more secure future,” Ghebreyesus said at a meeting in Geneva.
He added, “I have one simple request. Do this (finalize the agreement) for them.” He urged countries that did not fully agree on the text at hand to at least refrain from obstructing reaching consensus among the 194 member states of the World Health Organization.
One of the main points of contention between rich countries and developing countries is the thorny issue of equitably distributing medicines and vaccines to avoid a repeat of the failures that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Right-wing politicians in some countries have criticized the agreement, which will be binding by law, arguing that it gives too much power to a United Nations agency.
Ghebreyesus strongly refuted this argument, saying that the agreement would help countries better protect themselves from epidemics.
The 2003 Tobacco Control Convention was the only time in the organization’s 75-year history that WHO member states were able to agree on a legally binding treaty.
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