On Sunday, the WHO director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, revealed that a new pandemic pact under negotiation will be marked as a "historic agreement" that will create a radical shift in the approach to global health security following the COVID disaster.

He revealed that the WHO member nations launched the talks towards an international agreement to guarantee that the world is better prepared to avoid or respond more effectively the next time a pandemic strikes. Dr. Tedros noted that the initiative is still in its early stages, but the goal is to obtain an agreement by the next World Health Assembly in May 2024.

Earlier this month, the director general stated that the COVID crisis was no longer a global health emergency. However, on Sunday, he added that "COVID-19 is still with us; it still kills; its still changing; and it still demands our attention."

He revealed that if the pandemic accord is signed, this pact will mark the second legally binding health treaty signed by WHO member nations since WHO was created 75 years ago.

While talking about the pact, he highlighted the success of the first pact, namely the "Convention on Tobacco Control," adopted 20 years ago. He added that due to the measures taken as a part of the first pact, smoking prevalence has dropped by one-third globally.

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/who-chief-hopes-for-historic-pandemic-accord/100409867 )