WHO Thanks Philippines for Key Role in Pandemic Treaty Negotiations
GENEVA 05 April 2024 – World Health Organization Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his appreciation for the Philippines’ leading role in the ongoing negotiations on a “WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response” otherwise known as the Pandemic Treaty.
During a meeting at the WHO Headquarters with Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta, Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission in Geneva, the pair discussed the state of play of the negotiations which aims to adopt a consensus text by May 2024. Dr Tedros thanked Amb Sorreta for chairing an ambassador-level meeting of more than 30 developing countries known as the Group for Equity which the Director General attended. He conveyed his availability for further meetings with the Group to help build consensus on the instrument.
The Pandemic Treaty negotiations is entering its final stages as countries prepare for an additional meeting on 29 April to 10 May 2024 in the hopes of bridging divides on key issues such as access and benefit sharing, technology transfer and financing.
Amb Sorreta reaffirmed the Philippines’ dedication to continue working with other countries to deliver an effective instrument. Aside from helping create the Group for Equity, the Philippines served as co-facilitators for key Articles on Production of countermeasures, Transfer of technology and Supply chains and logistics. As a leading producer of health professionals, the Philippines is also a key proponent of the Article on Health workforce.
Apart from the negotiations, the two also discussed Philippine initiatives on human resources for health, financial contributions and planned membership to the WHO Executive Board in 2025. Dr Tedros encouraged the Philippines to explore the assignment in Geneva of a Health Attache from the Department of Health to help manage the increasing workload related to global health cooperation. END
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