The Covid-19 pandemic has proved that the world needs a pandemic treaty to strengthen both the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health security, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday. “This is an idea whose time has come,” said Ghebreyesus, in his closing remarks at the WHO’s 74th World Health Assembly (WHA), which took place online from May 24 till Tuesday.

Ghebreyesus said that the defining characteristic of the pandemic is the lack of sharing: of data, information, pathogens, technologies and resources. “A treaty would foster improved sharing, trust and accountability, and provide the solid foundation on which to build other mechanisms for global health security. Pandemics are a threat to all of us. So we must work together to build a healthier, safer, fairer future -- for all of us,” he said.