On May 27, world leaders are supposed to convene in Geneva for the annual World Health Assembly. Among other things to be discussed at the meeting, experts will also be deliberating on the new ‘pandemic accord’. What is this treaty and is it the only way forward for us to tackle a global health emergency? Doctors and policy makers endorse the idea.
Read on New Delhi: Government leaders from 194 countries (member states of the World Health Organization) are going to convene in Geneva on May 27 to vote on the Pandemic Accord (aka Pandemic Treaty or the Pandemic Agreement). While the aim of this treaty is to facilitate international co-operation in preparing for, preventing, and responding to pandemics, public health experts across the globe say both the timing and the intent of the Accord is perfect. The pandemic accord is being determined by an ongoing negotiation process, facilitated by WHO, says the United Nations (UN).
“What pandemics teach is that no one is safe until everyone is safe. In such a scenario where global health crisis is upon us, agreements like this are the only way out. We endorse such an idea, it is for the best of the humanity,” said Dr Himanshu Bhatnagar, a public health policy expert based out of New Delhi, India.
He added that the agreement must entail all possible ways in which nations can help each other overcome an astute health emergency, like the COVID-19. Widespread impact of COVID-19 makes treaty inevitable The coronavirus pandemic has no.
