Great news for global health! 🩺 The World Health Organization (WHO) member states have agreed to extend the pandemic agreement negotiations for another year. This extension gives experts more time to finalize a groundbreaking treaty aimed at combating future pandemics and enhancing our preparedness.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), formed in December 2021, will continue its mission to deliver the agreement by the next World Health Assembly in 2025. There's even a chance it could be ready sooner, at a special session in 2024.
\"There was a clear consensus amongst all member states on the need for a further instrument to help the world better fight a full-blown pandemic,\" said INB co-chair Precious Matsoso. 🙌
In addition to extending the talks, this year's World Health Assembly approved amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). These changes introduce a definition of a pandemic emergency, which will trigger more effective international collaboration during potential pandemics.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted, \"Today's strengthening of the IHR provides powerful momentum to complete the pandemic agreement, which, once finalized, can help to prevent a repeat of the devastation to health, societies and economies caused by COVID-19.\" 💪
These developments are set to bolster countries' abilities to detect and respond to future outbreaks by enhancing national capacities and improving coordination between member states on disease surveillance, information sharing, and response.
