“Pandemic Treaty”, to prevent future global health disasters: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) is considering a “Pandemic Treaty” to prevent global health disasters, given the shortcomings of the global health system exposed recently due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The objectives of this treaty are:
To provide a convention, agreement or other international measure to prevent the occurrence of future global pandemics, and to improve preparedness and action to deal with global pandemic outbreaks.
Background of this treaty:
- Its second special session was organized by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in December 2021. This season the only decision adopted by the WHA was titled ‘The World Together’. The first such special session was organized by the IWHA at the time of its inception in the year 1948.
- As part of this decision, the WHA has established an “Intergovernmental Negotiating Body: INB”. Responsible for making and negotiating the same.
The following points are expected to be included in this global pandemic treaty:
- To perform genome sequencing of emerging new viruses and share related data,
- Ensuring equitable distribution of vaccines and medicines, and sharing of related research around the world.
- The European Union wants the treaty to include provisions on banning wildlife markets.
- On the other hand, the European Union also wants the pandemic treaty to be legally binding. However, the USA, Brazil and India have objected to this.
Source – The Hindu
