According to UN Secretary General António Guterres, the world is not yet prepared for a possible new pandemic. “We have to do more. We must ensure that everyone has access to diagnostics, treatment and vaccines,” he said.
Wednesday, December 27 is International Epidemic Preparedness Day. This concerns local or regional outbreaks of an infectious disease; if it spreads worldwide, we call it a pandemic. Work is currently underway on a global pandemic treaty, which was drawn up at the initiative of the President of the EU Council, Charles Michel. Negotiations are taking place at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. The draft is so far 30 pages long and very controversial. The content includes how information about emerging pathogens is quickly shared, who produces vaccines and medicines where and how they are distributed.
“Moral and medical catastrophe”
“We cannot allow the moral and medical catastrophe of rich countries hoarding and controlling pandemic supplies. We must ensure that everyone has access to diagnostics, treatment and vaccines,” said UN Secretary General Guterres.
However, it is questionable whether the planned contract will actually come into effect. So there must be enough countries that ratify it and it would then only be valid in these countries. So far, rich country governments have criticized the need to disclose details of pandemic product research funding and the need for pharmaceutical companies to make prices transparent. It is also controversial that the pharmaceutical industry should relinquish intellectual property rights on medicines in the event of a new pandemic. In addition, the country should be obliged to donate part of its production to the WHO for distribution.
The treaty could be adopted at the World Health Assembly (May 27 to June 1, 2024). However, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation considers it very unlikely that all problems can be solved by then. Guterre’s statements were recently confirmed by a research report by the independent Observatory for Health Crisis Preparedness, founded by the WHO. It states that the world has apparently not learned enough lessons from the Corona crisis (see video above).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
