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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Friday that history would judge countries harshly if they failed to strike a pandemic treaty agreement in the final stages of negotiations. With the deadline for finalizing the treaty fast approaching, Tedros emphasized the significance of global cooperation in preventing future pandemics.
The landmark agreement, which seeks to establish a framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, has been in the works since December 2021. Countries have made progress, but significant issues remain unresolved as the final round of negotiations looms. Tedros urged participants not to let minor issues obstruct the larger goal of ensuring global health security.
A Crucial Point in the Pandemic Treaty Negotiations
Speaking as the penultimate week of talks wrapped up at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Tedros acknowledged that progress had been made, but cautioned that much work remains. “You are so close. Closer than you think. You are on the cusp of making history,” he told negotiators. However, he warned against letting disagreements over minor details delay the treaty, calling on nations to avoid “making perfect the enemy of the good.”
With only five more days of formal negotiations scheduled for April 7-11, countries have agreed to hold informal meetings in March to find compromises on the most contentious issues. Tedros urged participants to remain focused on reaching an agreement, despite the pressure and remaining challenges.
“History will not forgive us if we fail to deliver,” he added, stressing that the treaty would be an important step toward preventing future pandemics and improving global health governance.
US Withdrawal Adds Uncertainty to the Talks
The 13th round of pandemic treaty talks kicked off under a cloud, as the United States announced it would no longer participate in the discussions. The U.S. had previously withdrawn from the WHO under President Donald Trump, and its decision to step back from the treaty talks has created uncertainty about the future of the agreement.
Despite the U.S. withdrawal, European diplomatic sources expressed optimism that a deal could still be reached. Tedros reaffirmed the importance of the negotiations, emphasizing that a pandemic treaty would signal to the world that multilateralism remains effective even amid geopolitical tensions.
“The world needs a sign that multilateralism still works,” Tedros insisted, underscoring that a successful agreement would serve as a symbol of global cooperation and a shared commitment to public health.
Disputes Over Pathogen Access and Equity
While much of the draft text for the pandemic treaty has been agreed upon, several contentious issues remain, particularly regarding the sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and the equitable distribution of benefits such as vaccines, tests, and treatments. Countries, especially those from the Global South, have called for greater access to life-saving medical resources during future health crises.
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In response, the Philippines, speaking on behalf of 11 nations including Australia, Brazil, and Mexico, emphasized that incremental progress had been made. The group expressed confidence that the final agreement in May would be a testament to global commitment to public health.
“We are optimistic that the remaining issues, though critical, are manageable,” said a spokesperson for Eswatini, which represents 49 African countries in the negotiations.
Calls for Stronger Commitment Amid Sluggish Progress
While some progress has been made, civil society organizations following the talks have expressed frustration with the slow pace of negotiations. Some advocates have urged countries to agree on a solid foundational treaty that can be built upon in the future, rather than waiting for a perfect solution.
Nina Jamal from Four Paws noted that while some provisions in the treaty are still weak or full of caveats, the agreement represents an improvement over the status quo. “This treaty, as it stands right now, won’t deliver everything we want, but it’s an improvement,” Jamal said.
However, James Love, director of Knowledge Ecology International, expressed doubts about the commitment of some parties, particularly the European Union, to finalize an agreement in May. Love also pointed out the growing influence of right-wing populism and the U.S. withdrawal from global agreements as factors complicating the talks.
WHO Denounces Disinformation Campaigns
Tedros also addressed the misinformation and conspiracy theories circulating around the treaty, particularly false claims that the agreement would compromise national sovereignty. “False claims” suggesting that the treaty would allow the WHO to control national health policies or cede sovereignty to the organization will not succeed, he said, dismissing such claims as unfounded.
In light of widespread misinformation, James Love called for greater transparency in the negotiation process, urging the WHO to webcast closed-door sessions. “The secrecy of the negotiations just feeds into the paranoia and conspiracy theories,” he said, referencing the rise of anti-vaccine movements that have fueled public mistrust in global health efforts.
