WHO chief urges countries to prepare for next pandemic
The WHO’s 194 member states are drafting a pandemic treaty which is up for adoption at next year’s assembly
22 May 2023 - 18:03
byEmma Farge
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends the World Health Assembly at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 21 2023. Picture: DENIS BALIBOUSE/REUTERS
Geneva — The head of the World Health Organization urged countries on Monday to carry out reforms needed to prepare for the next pandemic, hailing their “historic” decision to accept a major budget hike at the UN agency’s annual assembly.
Speaking at the assembly weeks after ending the global emergency status for the Covid-19 pandemic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next pandemic.
“We cannot kick this can down the road,” the WHO director-general said in a major address to the agency’s member states, warning that the next pandemic was bound to “come knocking”.
“If we do not make the changes that must be made, then who will? And if we do not make them now, then when?” he said.
The 10-day annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, which coincides with the WHO’s 75th anniversary, is set to address global health challenges including future pandemics, eradicating polio and supporting steps to ease Ukraine’s health emergency triggered by Russia’s invasion.
The WHO’s 194 member states are now drafting a pandemic treaty which is up for adoption at next year’s assembly.
“A commitment from this generation (to a pandemic accord) is important, because it is this generation that experienced how awful a small virus could be,” said Tedros.
At the same meeting, countries approved a $6.83bn (R131.5bn) budget for 2024-25 — a decision that tested national commitments to fixing a WHO funding model which was seen as too small and overly reliant on the vagaries of donors.
The budget includes a 20% increase in member states’ mandatory fees under a preliminary agreement reached last year in exchange for a commitment to reforms including on budget, governance and finance policies.
US assistant secretary for international organisation affairs Michele Sison said future increases would be “contingent upon continued reform progress”. Central and South American countries also called for the WHO to address what they described as chronic underfunding of their region.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
WHO chief urges countries to prepare for next pandemic
The WHO’s 194 member states are drafting a pandemic treaty which is up for adoption at next year’s assembly
Geneva — The head of the World Health Organization urged countries on Monday to carry out reforms needed to prepare for the next pandemic, hailing their “historic” decision to accept a major budget hike at the UN agency’s annual assembly.
Speaking at the assembly weeks after ending the global emergency status for the Covid-19 pandemic, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next pandemic.
“We cannot kick this can down the road,” the WHO director-general said in a major address to the agency’s member states, warning that the next pandemic was bound to “come knocking”.
“If we do not make the changes that must be made, then who will? And if we do not make them now, then when?” he said.
The 10-day annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, which coincides with the WHO’s 75th anniversary, is set to address global health challenges including future pandemics, eradicating polio and supporting steps to ease Ukraine’s health emergency triggered by Russia’s invasion.
The WHO’s 194 member states are now drafting a pandemic treaty which is up for adoption at next year’s assembly.
“A commitment from this generation (to a pandemic accord) is important, because it is this generation that experienced how awful a small virus could be,” said Tedros.
At the same meeting, countries approved a $6.83bn (R131.5bn) budget for 2024-25 — a decision that tested national commitments to fixing a WHO funding model which was seen as too small and overly reliant on the vagaries of donors.
The budget includes a 20% increase in member states’ mandatory fees under a preliminary agreement reached last year in exchange for a commitment to reforms including on budget, governance and finance policies.
US assistant secretary for international organisation affairs Michele Sison said future increases would be “contingent upon continued reform progress”. Central and South American countries also called for the WHO to address what they described as chronic underfunding of their region.
Reuters
CHRIS ROPER: This global viral emergency is far from over
Covid no longer a global health emergency, WHO says
WHO launches mRNA vaccine hub in Cape Town
African countries set to follow Ghana’s nod for malaria shot
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
CHRIS ROPER: This global viral emergency is far from over
Covid no longer a global health emergency, WHO says
WHO launches mRNA vaccine hub in Cape Town
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.