Parliamentarians from around the world gathered at the UNITE Global Summit in Berlin on Wednesday, to sign a statement supporting the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement is aimed at addressing gaps that became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, and also looks at the threats posed by mpox and other disease outbreaks. It is currently under negotiation by WHO member states, and seeks to strengthen global collaboration on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

The statement which was signed by the President of UNITE, members of its board, and members of parliament from around the world, shows the parliamentarians' commitment to strengthening this pandemic preparedness and also ensuring equitable access to healthcare.

IN BOX:

THE FOUR COMMITMENTS OF THE GLOBAL PARLIAMENTARY STATEMENT:

1. Ensure equitable access to health tools that are related to pandemic, especially countries with less resources.

2. Strengthen global solidarity to build health systems that can prevent and respond to pandemics.

3. Advocate for legislative action, including the ratification and implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement

4. Provide evidence-based health information to combat misinformation.

“Parliamentarians are the voice of the people and have a crucial responsibility in safeguarding public health,” Ricardo Baptista Leite, the President of UNITE said.

“The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a historic opportunity to prevent pandemics and strengthen our global preparedness and response capabilities. By signing this statement, we are not only showing our support for the agreement but also pledging to ensure that its principles of equity, solidarity, and global cooperation are fully realized in every nation,” he added.

The UNITE Global Summit, which was held in collaboration with the World Health Summit (WHS) this year, brought together global parliamentarians, civil society leaders, and health experts.

The summit, WHO said, aimed to translate discussions into actionable policy priorities.

“It focuses on critical health challenges under four main pillars: Human Rights & Equitable Access to Health, Global Health Architecture & Security, Strengthening of Healthcare Systems, and Sustainable Financing for Health,” according to the WHO.

The signing of the Global Parliamentary Statement in Support of the Pandemic Agreement was a highlight of the summit and demonstrated the critical role of lawmakers in ensuring populations are protected against future pandemics.

“The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a stronger, fairer, and more prepared global health system,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said, while welcoming the statement.

“By signing this statement, parliamentarians from around the world are showing their commitment to protecting lives from future pandemics and ensuring equitable access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and other health tools for every country, particularly those with fewer resources,” he added.

The President of UNITE further emphasized the importance of collective action. “The challenges we face today demand a global response. No single country can prevent or combat pandemics alone. The WHO Pandemic Agreement is an essential step forward in ensuring that every nation has the tools, resources, and capabilities to respond to future health threats,” he said.

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