Health officials from across the globe are gathered in Geneva this week to finalize negotiations on a global pandemic treaty and updates to the International Health Rules. While progress has been made on approximately 80% of the treaty content, there remain several controversial topics that need to be resolved, including financing and sharing drugs and vaccines.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra expressed optimism that a deal is within reach, emphasizing the importance of not missing out on critical reforms to the global pandemic response. Becerra acknowledged that while there may be disagreements over how certain elements are defined or packaged, there is broad agreement on the essential elements of the treaty.
One of the primary areas of contention is around measures to prevent hoarding of drugs and vaccines, with African countries advocating for stronger action in this area. However, Becerra assured that the United States has been actively working towards reaching an agreement and contributing to the negotiations.
In light of ongoing discussions, there is consideration of extending the treaty talks by one to two years to ensure that all aspects are thoroughly discussed and resolved. The U.S. delegate previously stated that the reform of the International Health Rules should be finalized this week, and the United States supports extending the treaty talks to achieve a comprehensive agreement.
