During the World Health Assembly held on June 1, 2024, member countries of the World Health Organization came together to approve new measures aimed at enhancing global preparedness for pandemics like COVID-19 and mpox. The International Health Regulations, initially adopted in 2005, were amended to include definitions of a “pandemic emergency” and provisions to support developing countries in gaining better access to financing and medical products.
While a comprehensive pandemic treaty was not finalized during this meeting due to disagreements between developing and developed nations regarding the sharing of technology and pathogens, countries committed to completing negotiations on the accord within the year. Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University, viewed this development as a significant victory for health security and an important step in simplifying future negotiations regarding the pandemic agreement.
According to the World Health Organization, a pandemic emergency is now defined as a communicable disease with a wide geographical spread or a high risk of one, surpassing the capabilities of national health systems, causing substantial economic or social disruption, and necessitating swift international action. The revisions approved on Saturday include critical provisions aimed at promoting equity in access to health products during global health emergencies, as noted by Yuanqiong Hu, a senior legal and policy adviser at Doctors Without Borders.