The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Brazil have urged global leaders to conclude a vital international agreement designed to strengthen the world’s preparedness against future pandemics.
The appeal was made in a joint letter released on Monday and signed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.
The letter highlighted the collective responsibility of nations to ensure the world does not experience the level of devastation witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed an estimated 20 million lives and caused about 13 trillion dollars in global economic losses.
It recalled how the pandemic overwhelmed health systems, separated families from their loved ones and placed immense pressure on frontline healthcare workers.
According to the leaders, this painful experience led to a global commitment that humanity should never again face a pandemic without adequate preparation.
They noted that countries made major progress over a year ago by adopting the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which aims to improve cooperation in preventing, preparing for and responding to future health emergencies.
“In a divided world, that outcome was not to be taken for granted,” the letter stated, describing the agreement as a demonstration of hope and trust among nations.
However, they explained that the pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) annex remains the final obstacle preventing the agreement from coming into force.
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The PABS framework is expected to enable the rapid sharing of pathogen data and genetic information, allowing scientists to develop essential diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.
The letter warned that failure to complete the annex would leave the promise of a stronger global pandemic response unfinished.
The remaining negotiations involve complex issues, including how benefits derived from shared pathogens should be distributed fairly and how governance mechanisms can ensure equity.
These unresolved concerns contributed to shortcomings in the global response to COVID-19.
Negotiators are expected to reconvene from July 6 to July 17 in a renewed effort to finalise the PABS annex and complete the landmark agreement.
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