Talks on global pandemic deal still bogged down

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community agreed that a new system is needed to strengthen prevention, preparedness and response. But the World Health Organization (WHO) meeting in Geneva this week is still at loggerheads over an important new pandemic treaty.

Double exposure of global Coronavirus COVID-19 cases. Photo courtesy of Brian McGowan - unsplash

Scientists have warned that the next pandemic is imminent, but the final draft of the system for dealing with the pandemic is still not reached before the end of this time meeting.

How to prepare for and respond to such events is still hotly debated.

World leaders this week delivered a stark difference of opinion on the next step in the historic agreement on the pandemic, after last week they missed a deadline to finalize the agreement.

FILE - Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), gestures as he speaks to journalists during a press conference at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland Credit: MARTIAL TREZZINI/AP

The Pandemic Accord Agreement was first proposed at the end of 2021, when COVID-19 was still ravaging countries around the world.

Once adopted, this treaty will establish legally binding policies for the 194 member countries of the World Health Organization [[WHO]].

But after two-and-a-half years of negotiations, deep divisions still exist -- especially when it comes to sharing information about pathogens and sharing technologies to fight them, such as vaccines and treatments.

The split frustrated activists in Geneva.

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