Global efforts to establish a unified strategy against future pandemics have hit a roadblock, as countries fail to reach an agreement on a treaty aimed at preventing nationalist approaches that hindered the response to Covid-19.
The World Health Assembly, meeting in Geneva, had aimed to address the disparities in access to vaccines and treatments between wealthy and poor nations that were exposed during the pandemic.
Despite the urgency of the issue, negotiations have stalled due to disagreements over key terms, including equitable access to vaccines.
Public health experts warn that another pandemic could be just around the corner, with emerging pathogens and familiar threats like bird flu and mpox posing a great risk.
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The proposed treaty would establish legally binding policies for the World Health Organization (WHO) member countries on pathogen surveillance, data sharing, and local manufacturing of vaccines and treatments.
However, some politicians have misrepresented the treaty as an attempt by the WHO to impose national policies on masking and lockdowns.
Negotiators sought more time to continue discussions, with some acknowledging that the self-imposed deadline was overly ambitious. The treaty’s adoption is crucial, as elections in the United States (US) and European countries could impact the negotiations.
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