The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement today.
The terms of the agreement were negotiated over more than three years in response to “the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics.” The adoption followed the approval of the Agreement by a vote among the WHO’s Member State delegations, which ended in a result of 124 in favor, 0 objections, and 11 abstentions.
The WHO Pandemic Agreement “sets out the principles, approaches, and tools for better international coordination across a range of areas, in order to strengthen the global health architecture for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. This includes through the equitable and timely access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.” It also makes clear that WHO will not direct or otherwise prescribe national and domestic law in any country.
Meanwhile, the HHS has reported on remarks made by its secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in a video. Kennedy reiterated that the Trump administration “fully intends to withdraw from the [WHO],” accusing it of becoming “mired in bureaucratic bloat, entrenched paradigms, conflicts of interest, and international power politics.” The concern seems to be the administration’s belief that China has exerted “undue influence” over WHO’s operations.
Matt MacKenzie | Associate Editor
Matt is Associate Editor for Healthcare Purchasing News.
