Covid: World leaders call for global treaty to fight future pandemics

They call for ‘renewed collective commitment’ in letter

Leaders from across the world have backed a call for an international treaty to help fight future health pandemics.

The treaty - which would target preparedness and response to future health emergencies - would ensure universal and equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics.

The idea was floated by the chairman of European Union leaders Charles Michel at a G20 summit last November.

It has now been backed by Boris Johnson and 23 other world leaders - including French and German counterparts Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel - in a letter printed in The Daily Telegraph in the UK and other newspapers across the world.

The letter called Covid-19 the "biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s", noting the two world wars brought about an era of co-operation between nation states.

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"Today we hold the same hope that, as we fight to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic together, we can build a more robust international health architecture that will protectfuture generations,” it said.

"We believe that nations should work together towards a new international treaty for pandemic preparedness and response.

"Such a renewed collective commitment would be a milestone in stepping up pandemic preparedness at the highest political level."

There is a shared commitment to "ensuring universal and equitable access to safe, efficacious and affordable vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for this and future pandemics".

In addition, the new international treaty would look to improve co-operation across a range of fields, from systems alerting about potential pandemics, to the sharing of data and distribution of vaccines and personal protective equipment.

The letter said: "At a time when Covid-19 has exploited our weaknesses and divisions, we must seize this opportunity and come together as a global community for peaceful co-operation that extends beyond this crisis."

Among those backing the idea were the leaders of Fiji, Portugal, Romania, Kenya, Greece, South Africa, Spain, Norway and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Experts told The Independent earlier this month that the UK had to start preparing for the next pandemic now, saying the country had to learn from the “tragic” lessons of the past year. 

And earlier this week, the government launched a new public health body called the UK Health Security Agency, which will be tasked with preparing the UK against future pandemic threats.

Additional reporting by agencies