WHO Director-General Tedros calls for urgent global pandemic agreement after U.S. withdrawal, stressing the need for international cooperation.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of finalizing a global agreement on future pandemics, describing it as “now or never” after the United States withdrew from negotiations. Tedros stressed that no country could safeguard itself from the next pandemic alone, following President Donald Trump’s administration’s announcement of its exit from the talks three days earlier.
At the start of the 13th round of negotiations in Geneva, Tedros urged countries to finalize the pandemic agreement ahead of the World Health Assembly in May. He reflected on the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, which claimed around 20 million lives, underlining the importance of global cooperation in preventing future crises.
The negotiations, which began in December 2021, aim to establish guidelines on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. However, disputes persist over issues such as equitable access to vaccines, tests, and treatments, and the sharing of pathogen information.
Tedros expressed regret over the U.S.’s withdrawal, hoping the country would reconsider, and called for continued collaboration despite geopolitical challenges. He underscored that the next pandemic was inevitable, with threats like Ebola, Marburg, and influenza constantly looming. Non-governmental organizations urged countries to stay committed to the agreement, highlighting the changing global landscape and the importance of unity in addressing global health threats.
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