Source: AFP
Countries were sharply divided on Tuesday over where to go next in trying to reach a global agreement on handling future pandemics after missing a deadline to finalize a deal.
While nations are eager to build on the progress made toward an agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, flaws have emerged in charting the path to an eventual agreement.
Africa and the United States were particularly far apart in how long the process should take, as countries took stock of the situation at the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.
African states spoke as one to say they wanted to take advantage of the growing momentum and finalize the deal in the coming months, while Washington urged countries to take their time to reach the best deal possible, suggesting the process could take up to and two years.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/d4fcc4d13a4a8e1f.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/d4fcc4d13a4a8e1f.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
UK Labor backs business relocation as industry comes back to party in election
Shaken by the devastation caused by Covid-19 — which has killed millions, devastated economies and destroyed health systems — countries have spent two years trying to reach binding commitments to deal with future pandemics.
But negotiations ended last Friday without a deal being finalized.
The deadline was this week’s WHA, a gathering of the World Health Organization’s 194 member states and top decision-making body.
The assembly mandated the drafting of a pandemic agreement in December 2021.
‘Let’s get this over with’
Roland Driece of the Netherlands and Precious Matsoso of South Africa co-chaired the nine rounds of talks on the pandemic agreement.
On Tuesday, they delivered the latest draft to the assembly, which shows 17 of its 34 articles fully approved by countries.
“Today we were hoping we could say we’re done, we’re finishing this and we’ve fulfilled our mandate, but we’re not there yet,” Driece said.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/8a23abb83f61ffca.png?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/8a23abb83f61ffca.png?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
The NDPC will launch the Ghana Vision 2057 development plan today, May 28, 2024
“Let’s end this as soon as we can … because we owe it to all the people who suffered during the Covid pandemic.”
South Africa’s representative, speaking on behalf of 47 African countries, said the continent demanded parity in the deal.
South Africa said the talks should continue and that chapters already agreed would not be re-opened for negotiations.
African countries want Driece and Matsoso’s mandate to be extended “to finalize the pandemic agreement” and the outcome to be submitted to a special session of the assembly before the end of 2024.
“fundamental differences”
But US chief negotiator Pamela Hamamoto said “fundamental differences remain on key issues of the deal” that require extensive discussions to resolve.
Source: AFP
“We don’t think an extension of just a few months is going to get it done and … we think an extension of one to two years is necessary,” he said.
The chairman of the convention committee proposed the formation of a drafting group, which will begin work on Wednesday, to consider the options.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/eef33e9732a3802d.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/eef33e9732a3802d.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
The world’s island nations are meeting to address climate and fiscal challenges
Germany said 80 percent of the most important issues had “already been agreed”, adding that the deal could be finalized “within a year at the latest”.
Israel felt an agreement could not be reached in two to four months, while Indonesia said countries needed not more time but the political will to prioritize global public health.
Canada and Switzerland said the deal should not be rushed, while Japan thought a year was needed.
Rewriting the rules
Parallel talks were also held on the revision of the International Health Regulations, which are very close to their completion.
First adopted in 1969 and last updated in 2005, the IHR is the existing, legally binding framework for responding to public health emergencies.
However, Covid-19 exposed flaws in the system, with countries failing to act when WHO sounded the highest available IHR alert in January 2020.
The proposed changes include reforming the warning system so that there are more and clearer warning levels.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/84e640845be8bf8b.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/84e640845be8bf8b.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
Read also
G7 ministers report ‘progress’ but no deal on Russian assets for Ukraine: draft statement
Several countries expressed hope that the amendments could be finalized this week.
However, if the African region fails to reach an agreement on concluding talks on the pandemic agreement within the year, it remains to be seen whether it will support the swift completion of the IHR amendments.
The assembly, which opened on Monday, closes on Saturday.
Source: AFP