The members of the World Health Organization (WHO) agreed to the text of a legally binding contract designed to do better with the future pandemics.
Again, it aims to avoid disorganization and competition for resources observed during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Key elements include quickly sharing new diseases to ensure that scientists and pharmaceutical companies can work more quickly to develop treatments and vaccines.
For the first time, the WHO itself will also have an overview of global supply chains for masks, medical dresses and other personal protective equipment (PPE).
WHO Director General D -R Tedros Adhanom Gebreys described the deal as “an important moment in our shared journey to a more favored world”.
“(Member States) also demonstrate that multifaceted is alive and well and that in our divided world, nations can still work together to find a common position and shared response to shared threats,” he said.
The legally binding pact reached early Wednesday came after three years of conversations between Member States.
Only a second time in the 75-year history of the WHO has been reached an international agreement of this type, the first is a tobacco control deal in 2003.
It must still be officially accepted by members when they meet for the World Health Assembly next month.
US negotiators were not part of the final discussions after President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw from the global health agency and the US would not be bound by the pact when he left in 2026.
According to the agreed conditions, the parties will have to ensure that pandemic drugs are available worldwide in a future hearth.
Participating manufacturers will need to allocate 20% of the production of vaccines, therapeutics and Diagnosis of the WHO. At least 10% will need to be donated to the rest of the affordable prices.
The parties have also approved the transfer of health technologies to the better countries, as long as it is “mutually agreed”.
This should also allow for more locally produced vaccines and medicines during pandemic. But this clause was extremely controversial.
Developing countries are still angry with the way wealthy nations have redeemed and stored vaccines during Covid-19, while countries with large pharmaceutical industries are worried about mandatory transfers can undermine research and development.
At the heart of the agreement is a system for access and exchange of benefits (PABS), which allows faster data exchange between pharmaceutical companies.
This should allow these companies to start working more on new medicines in any future hearth.