The presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorniconfirmed this morning that Argentina is not going to adhere to the World Health Organization Pandemic Treaty (WHO).
”This decision was communicated in the World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerlandwhere authorities of the Ministry of Health of the Nation and the Argentine Foreign Ministry They made it clear that our country will not sign any pandemic agreement that may affect national sovereignty. In Argentina, the decisions are made by the Argentinians,” the spokesperson defined at a press conference.
“We do not have to adhere to any suggestion from a group of countries. We will make our own decisions in the face of an event that may never occur, such as the existence of a pandemic,” the spokesperson completed.
As Infobae anticipated, from the health portfolio headed by cardiologist Mario Russo, they were not considering the possibility of signing any current or future agreement “that is above our National Constitution.”
At the end of 2021, the WHO began the drafting and negotiation of a “Treaty on Pandemics”, with the aim of establishing an international agreement for global prevention of future pandemics and establishing a coordinated response globally.
In May 2023, during the 76th World Health Assembly, the first status report of the project with the intention of having the instrument completed by May 2024. However, during the 77th World Health Assembly which took place in Geneva between May 27 and June 1a consensus was not achieved among the 194 nations and a definitive document could not be drafted.
At the close of the annual meeting held in Switzerland, the WHO reported that “a set of key amendments to the International Health Regulations and made a concrete commitment to conclude negotiations on a pandemic agreement global reach within a year at the latest, and possibly in 2024″
The pandemic treaty, called “Convention, Agreement or other International Instrument on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response,” proposes several key points. These include strengthening public health systems, international cooperation and financing essential infrastructure. Furthermore, he highlights the importance of research and development of medical technologies, as well as the need for more transparent and equitable management of global resources.
Argentina has argued that some clauses of the treaty could affect its sovereignty and ability to make autonomous decisions in matters of public health.
Furthermore, there are concerns about the effectiveness of the WHO’s proposed governance mechanism, and the ability of countries to comply with established obligations without compromising their internal policies. These concerns reflect a recurring situation between WHO member stateswhich involves balancing international cooperation with the preservation of national interests.
