Ammon News - World Health Organization members have agreed to prolong work on a global pandemic agreement for up to another year, according to a resolution passed by the World Health Assembly on Saturday.

Countries also passed amendments to the International Health Regulations, following a separate negotiation held in parallel over the last two years.

Delegates will try to reach consensus on a pandemic agreement “as soon as possible,” the resolution said, but no later than the WHO’s next annual assembly, expected to be held in May 2025. If a deal is agreed earlier, negotiators could report back to a special session of the World Health Assembly later this year.

During the last two years of talks, countries became entrenched in their positions on intellectual property and sharing vaccines and drugs in the next health crisis, making progress towards a meaningful deal seemingly impossible.

African countries initially pushed for a deal to be done this year, while the U.S. mooted a longer extension of “one to two years.”

A deal was originally due to be adopted this week but negotiators were unable to resolve their disagreements — namely on intellectual property and the sharing of drugs and vaccines — in time.

The resolution will also allow countries to rotate members of the bureau, the committee of officials moderating the talks.

Politico