WHO chief says ‘time has come’ for coronavirus treaty as part of bold reforms
- Health ministers agree to study recommendations from independent experts to strengthen the capacity of both the UN agency and countries to contain new viruses
- The WHO, which has been at the heart of the world’s sluggish response to the Covid-19 pandemic, faces a potential shake-up to prevent future outbreaks
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) called on Monday for countries to launch negotiations this year on an international treaty to boost pandemic preparedness, as part of sweeping reforms envisioned by member states.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, told its annual ministerial assembly that the UN agency faced a “serious challenge” to maintain its Covid-19 response at the current level and required sustainable and flexible funding.
Earlier in the day – the last of the week-long assembly – health ministers agreed to study recommendations for ambitious reforms made by independent experts to strengthen the capacity of both the WHO and countries to contain new viruses.
The ministers from the WHO’s 194 member states are to meet from November 29 to decide whether to launch negotiations on the pandemic treaty.
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“The one recommendation that I believe will do most to strengthen both WHO and global health security is the recommendation for a treaty on pandemic preparedness and response,” Tedros said. “This is an idea whose time has come.”