• Countries have agreed on a landmark treaty to combat future pandemics after extensive negotiations.
• The agreement emphasizes equitable access to health resources and data sharing.
• WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls the agreement a significant milestone for global safety.
• Concerns over US foreign aid and pharmaceutical tariffs shadowed the discussions.
• Former New Zealand PM highlights the importance of multilateral cooperation in tackling health threats.

After years of negotiations, countries reached a landmark accord early Wednesday on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding a repeat of the mistakes made during the COVID-19 crisis. This historic agreement came after over three years of discussions and a final marathon session, culminating in a consensus at the World Health Organization's headquarters around 2 a.m. on April 16, according to Le Monde.

Echoing the urgency of the situation, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that "tonight marks a significant milestone in our shared journey towards a safer world" and emphasized that "the nations of the world made history in Geneva today." This agreement comes five years after the devastating impact of COVID-19, with emerging health threats highlighted during the negotiations including H5N1 bird flu, measles, mpox, and Ebola, according to Channel News Asia.

Discussions leading to the agreement were fraught with challenges, particularly concerning Article 11, which outlines technology transfer for pandemic health products to developing nations. Wealthier countries faced accusations of vaccine hoarding during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to significant debate over the terms of technology transfers, as highlighted by The Jakarta Post. However, the inclusion of the phrase "mutually agreed" helped resolve key disagreements, facilitating consensus among member states.

The core of this agreement revolves around a proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), which aims to ensure the rapid sharing of pathogen data with pharmaceutical companies, enabling timely development of pandemic countermeasures. After the concluding session, negotiations co-chair Anne-Claire Amprou announced "It's adopted," drawing a strong response from the delegates, according to TRT Global.

Looking forward, the finalized treaty will be presented for approval at the WHO's annual assembly next month. Tedros emphasized that a well-coordinated approach to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, while potentially costly, is significantly less expensive than the consequences of inaction. As he noted, "the virus is the worst enemy... it could be worse than a war," reflecting deep concerns within the international community, according to Le Monde.

The absence of the United States from the negotiations, following cuts to foreign aid and threats of tariffs on pharmaceutical goods, contributed to a complex backdrop for the discussions. Nevertheless, many participants deemed the agreement a victory for global cooperation in a time when multilateral efforts are critical. As stated by former Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand, "we will defeat the next pandemic threat in the only way possible: by working together," highlighting the spirit of collaboration that underscored these negotiations, according to Channel News Asia.

While celebrating this achievement, representatives have underscored that "the real work begins now," stressing the need for ongoing commitment to ensure that this agreement is more than a historical footnote, as emphasized by a delegate from Eswatini, demonstrating a proactive attitude toward future challenges in global health preparedness, according to The Jakarta Post.