The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that it will begin negotiations for an international agreement on the prevention and control of future pandemics as the world prepares to fight the new strain of the coronavirus - Omicron.

The pandemic enhancement agreement is expected to be completed in May 2024, covering issues ranging from data sharing and sequencing of new virus genomes to the equitable distribution of vaccines and research-derived drugs.

"Making that decision is a cause for celebration and a cause for hope that we all need."said WHO chief Tedros Adanom Gebrejesus at a meeting of health ministers. 

According to him, there is still a long way to go.

"There are still differing opinions on what the new agreement may or should contain." said Tedros, calling for continued co-operation.

He added that in the meantime, countries should comply with WHO international health regulations from 2005.

The decision, titled "World Together", was adopted by consensus of the special assembly of 194 member states of the UN health body, prompting applause at the end of the three-day meeting.

"The text before us is the result of extensive discussions, honest exchanges and compromises," he said.said Australian Ambassador Sally Mansfield, who co-chaired the working group.

The European Union is pushing for an internationally binding agreement, along with about 70 countries, but Brazil, India and the United States were among those who did not want to commit to the agreement, diplomats said.

"We call for an ambitious process in the development of this agreement - for all of us to demonstrate our multilateral commitment and commitment to the binding instrument." said Ambassador Lotte Knudsen, head of the EU delegation to the UN in Geneva.

The United States welcomed the decision in a statement, saying: ""This important step is our shared responsibility to work together to improve health security and make the global health system stronger and more sensitive."

Source: MIA