Good morning, this is Michelle. The mood within the Palais des Nations yesterday morning was cheerful – a stark contrast from the gloomy weather outside – as ministers celebrated the adoption of a global pandemic agreement on the second day of the World Health Assembly.
While congratulations for such a diplomatic feat are in order – especially in a bleak year for multilateralism –, the work is far from over, and tough challenges loom ahead for the agreement to actually have a true impact on the ground and protect the world from another Covid-like nightmare. |
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Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, and member state delegates, celebrate the approval of the pandemic accord at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, 20 May 20 2025. (Keystone/Magali Girardin)
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Countries adopted a pandemic agreement – now what?
Before the agreement can be opened for the 60 ratifications necessary for its entry into force, countries will have to iron out the nitty gritty details of one of the most contentious issues that plagued the discussions up until now – the pathogen access and benefit sharing mechanism, also known as the PABS. And even then, questions about funding in this toilsome donor climate remain unresolved.
Geneva Solutions (EN)
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