Rich countries should play bigger role in combating pandemics -WHO draft

Richer countries should be asked to better pull their weight in helping the world cope with pandemics, according to a new draft of a treaty being negotiated at the World Health Organization. Countries with more "capacities and resources" should bear a "commensurate degree" of responsibility for preparing for and responding to global health threats, the document, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, suggests. … The 42-page document sent to member states and non-governmental organisations on Tuesday was drawn up based on suggestions from all member states in response to previous versions of the text. Countries have the option to remove numerous paragraphs from it in future negotiations, including the one about responsibilities. … A clause in an earlier draft obliging pharmaceutical companies to make details of their deals with governments public appears to have been dropped. The document also defines "pandemic" - one of several sticking points that have already taken up negotiating time - as "the global spread of a pathogen or variant" that spreads easily, is dangerous, overwhelms health systems, and requires international coordination.