The top U.S. health official emphasized on Wednesday that it would be “tragic” to miss out on crucial reforms to the global pandemic response, asserting that a treaty deal was within reach with no significant disagreements among negotiators.
Health officials are convening in Geneva this week to conclude over two years of negotiations on a pandemic treaty and updates to the existing International Health Rules (IHR).
Despite their efforts, countries have not finalized the treaty during this assembly and are now considering an extension.
“I believe we are going to get this done because it would be tragic, especially given how far we’ve come, to not get it done,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated to reporters on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly.
“Something is going to broadside us.
“We just have to be ready and we know what it takes to be ready,” he added, highlighting the need for preparedness against future disease outbreaks.
While approximately 80% of the content of the pandemic agreement is agreed upon, contentious issues remain, including financing and a system for sharing drugs and vaccines.
African countries are advocating strongly for measures to prevent what they perceive as COVID-era hoarding.
However, Becerra downplayed these differences.
“I don’t think there’s today substantive disagreement about the essential elements – it’s more how they are packaged, how they are defined,” he explained.
When asked whether the United States had done enough to ensure a fair future system, he responded, “There’s no one that’s put more on the table than the United States to get a deal. Does that meet the definition of equity? I’m not sure but I know we’re giving.”
A U.S. delegate previously indicated that the IHR regulation reforms should be finalized this week and that Washington supports extending the treaty talks for one to two years.