Egypt's Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar on Monday reaffirmed the commitment of countries in the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region to actively engage with the global health body in efforts to bolster pandemic preparedness and prevention. Speaking on behalf of WHO Eastern Mediterranean member states at the opening of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Minister Abdel Ghaffar welcomed the progress made by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) tasked with drafting an international pandemic treaty. He praised the INB's "diplomatic skill and unwavering commitment" in reaching a final agreement, describing it as a significant step toward building a safer, more resilient global health system. The Egyptian minister stressed that the treaty must guarantee more than just early warning systems, calling for equitable and rapid access to medical countermeasures for all countries, strengthened national health capacities, and reduced dependence on external actors. "Equity in the agreement is not merely a choice, but the true measure of success," he said, according to a statement from Egypt's Cabinet. The minister added that the draft agreement offers a balanced and forward-looking foundation for fairer and more effective global cooperation in the face of future pandemics. He also underscored the importance of sustainable financing to ensure the treaty's implementation, urging the WHO and its partners to develop new funding mechanisms that can support countries in meeting their obligations. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
