WHO Chief Presses for Global Pandemic Accord as Deadline Nears

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges countries to finalize a pivotal pandemic agreement to enhance global health security, with significant disagreements persisting.

• The WHO Director-General emphasizes the urgency of adopting a new pandemic accord by May 10, aiming to prevent future global health crises.
• Negotiations reveal sharp divides, particularly over equitable vaccine and drug distribution between developed and developing nations.
• Critics, including some U.S. and Australian right-wing politicians, argue the accord grants excessive power to the WHO, a claim Tedros refutes.
• The proposed agreement would be the WHO's second legally binding treaty in its 75-year history, following a tobacco control treaty in 2003.
• The accord aims to improve international cooperation and readiness against pandemics, learning from the shortcomings observed during COVID-19.

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