# Explainer-How the World Health Organization might fight future pandemics
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-11-18
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: WHO Negotiating Pandemic Treaty for Global Health Defences
Meta Description: Discover ongoing talks at the World Health Organization on a new pact to strengthen global defences against pandemics, with a target agreement by May 2024.
URL: https://financedigest.com/explainer-how-the-world-health-organization-might-fight-future-pandemicshtml

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By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) – Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pandemics are underway at the World Health Organization (WHO), with a target date of May 2024 for a legally binding agreement to be adopted by the U.N. health agency’s 194 member countries.

A new pact is a priority for WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as his second five-year term at the [head of the global](https://www.financedigest.com/new-york-catches-up-with-london-to-head-citys-global-centres-survey.html "New York catches up with London to head City’s global centres survey") health agency gets underway. It seeks to shore up the world’s defences against new pathogens following the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://www.financedigest.com/pandemic-restrictions-that-hampered-the-circulation-of-viruses-other-than-covid-19.html "Pandemic restrictions that hampered the circulation of viruses other than COVID-19") that has killed more than 6.5 million people, according to the WHO.

The [global health agency itself is facing calls](https://www.financedigest.com/german-industry-calls-for-delay-to-global-minimum-tax-bdi.html "German industry calls for delay to global minimum tax – BDI") for reform after an independent panel described it as “underpowered” when COVID-19 struck, with limited ability to investigate outbreaks and coordinate containment measures.

WHAT IS THE SO-CALLED PANDEMIC TREATY?

The WHO already has binding rules known as the International Health Regulations (2005) which [set out countries’ obligations where public health](https://www.financedigest.com/investment-in-mental-health-amongst-cybersecurity-professionals-set-to-increase-according-to-infosecurity-europe-poll.html "Investment in mental health amongst cybersecurity professionals set to increase according to Infosecurity Europe poll") events have the potential to cross borders. These include [advising the WHO immediately](https://www.financedigest.com/the-fca-is-taking-immediate-action-on-customer-vulnerability-but-how-does-this-impact-advisers.html "The FCA is taking immediate action on customer vulnerability; but how does this impact advisers?") of a health emergency and measures on trade and travel.

Adopted after the 2002/3 SARS outbreak, these [regulations are still seen as functional for regional epidemics like Ebola but inadequate for a global](https://www.financedigest.com/global-crypto-regulation-body-likely-in-next-year-top-official-says.html "Global crypto regulation body likely in next year, top official says") pandemic.

Suggested proposals for the pact include the sharing of [data and genome sequences of emerging viruses and rules](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-plans-new-data-rules-to-ease-compliance-burden.html "Britain plans new data rules to ease compliance burden") on equitable vaccine distribution.

Member [states agreed in July that the new agreement should be legally](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-abortion-ruling-ignites-legal-battles-over-state-bans.html "U.S. abortion ruling ignites legal battles over state bans") binding. Another key meeting is scheduled for December.

It would be only the second such health accord after the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a treaty which aims to reduce smoking via taxation and [rules on labelling and advertising](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-watchdog-warns-crypto-firms-to-prepare-for-advertising-rule-change.html "UK watchdog warns crypto firms to prepare for advertising rule change").

HOW DO [COUNTRIES VIEW THE PACT](https://www.financedigest.com/as-who-pandemic-pact-talks-begin-poor-countries-on-back-foot.html "As WHO pandemic pact talks begin, poor countries on back foot")?

The EU proposed the accord and is seen as its biggest backer. [Developing countries](https://www.financedigest.com/what-its-like-for-women-entrepreneurs-in-developing-countries.html "What it’s Like for Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries") are keen to use the negotiations as an opportunity to secure better access to vaccines, following allegations of “vaccine apartheid” from the WHO’s Director-General Tedros.

Members are due to [give their initial feedback to the draft in a public](https://www.financedigest.com/japans-emperor-gives-first-public-new-years-greeting-since-2020.html "Japan’s emperor gives first public New Year’s greeting since 2020") meeting between Dec. 5-7. With so many member countries involved, securing agreement is likely to be tricky.

HOW WOULD IT WORK?

It is not yet clear how the 2005 regulations and the new [pandemic accord might](https://www.financedigest.com/four-bad-communication-habits-that-you-might-have-slipped-into-during-the-pandemic.html "Four bad communication habits that you might have slipped into during the pandemic") fit together.

One suggestion is that they should be complementary, so that existing [rules apply to local outbreaks with the new rules kicking in if the WHO declares a pandemic](https://www.financedigest.com/big-pharma-may-have-to-reveal-government-deals-in-whos-draft-pandemic-rules.html "Big Pharma may have to reveal government deals in WHO’s draft pandemic rules") — something it does not currently have a mandate to do.

It remains to be determined whether negotiators will include measures such as sanctions to [ensure compliance](https://www.financedigest.com/the-lego-blocks-of-saas-how-microservices-can-help-ensure-compliance-with-changing-financial-regulations.html "The Lego blocks of SaaS: how microservices can help ensure compliance with changing financial regulations").

WHAT OTHER REFORMS ARE IN THE WORKS?

Separate talks on an initiative to overhaul the 2005 rules are taking place, with proposals submitted by the United States, the European Union and at least a dozen others, [diplomats say](https://www.financedigest.com/mooted-u-s-expulsion-of-russian-diplomats-would-mean-u-s-embassy-closure-says-moscow.html "Mooted U.S. expulsion of Russian diplomats would mean U.S. embassy closure, says Moscow").

Washington’s proposals aim to boost transparency and [grant the WHO quicker access](https://www.financedigest.com/51-of-brits-support-teresa-may-and-would-grant-access-to-their-personal-communication-and-internet-browsing-history-as-part-of-the-snoopers-charter.html "51%* of Brits support Teresa May and would grant access to their personal communication and internet browsing history as part of the Snooper’s Charter ") to outbreak sites. Several diplomats said they are likely to prove too ambitious, with opposition from [China and others expected on national sovereignty grounds](https://www.financedigest.com/how-china-became-ground-zero-for-the-auto-chip-shortage.html "How China became ground zero for the auto chip shortage").

China did allow WHO-led expert teams to visit the COVID-19 epicentre in Wuhan, but the WHO [says it is still withholding clinical data from early](https://www.financedigest.com/early-signs-covid-19-vaccines-may-not-stop-delta-transmission-england-says.html "Early signs COVID-19 vaccines may not stop Delta transmission, England says") cases that may hold clues about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)


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