- UK – Argentina led resolution at World Health Assembly will
protect the world from future pandemics as well as existing
health threats
- Resolution will help developing countries to run their own
drug and vaccine trials
- UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care calls agreement a ‘landmark
moment’ in world’s journey to pandemic preparedness
Millions of people across the world will be better protected from
future pandemics thanks to a landmark resolution brought by the
UK and Argentina at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva
today (Friday 27 May).
By encouraging more specific funding, the resolution will help
developing countries increase their capacity to run their own
clinical trials – helping them to test new drugs, vaccines and
other health interventions which will benefit their populations –
while working across countries to respond to future pandemics
more rapidly.
As well as helping countries to respond faster in a public health
emergency, the resolution will also help countries tackle
existing health challenges such as tuberculosis, diabetes, and
mental health problems.
There will also be closer collaboration between researchers on
clinical trials across the world – reducing research waste –
while increased transparency will mean the results of trials will
be more readily shared between countries.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said:
“We saw from Covid how important it is for countries to share
information quickly and this resolution represents another
landmark moment in the world’s journey to pandemic preparedness.
“Clinical trials are vital for testing and producing lifesaving
drugs and vaccines, and this resolution led by the UK and
Argentina will make it much easier for developing countries to
run their own trials - protecting them and others from another
pandemic.
The resolution aims to strengthen clinical trials of all health
interventions, not just drugs and vaccines. For example, trials
for new diagnostics, surgical procedures, or behavioural
interventions. It will also help to achieve the goal of
developing new diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines within 100
days of a new pandemic threat being identified.
The resolution urges research funders to invest in developing
countries and deliver trials to tackle health problems which
disproportionately affect their populations. It also commits
countries to increased international co-ordination to rapidly
evaluate drugs and vaccines in any future pandemic.
The UK’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care used his
speech on Monday to call for Taiwan to be given observer status
at the WHA which would give them access to the relevant technical
meetings that would help them prepare for another pandemic.
The resolution is the latest UK led endeavour to prepare the
world for another pandemic, and follows the signing of the Pact
for Pandemic Preparedness at the end of the G7 health ministers
meeting in Berlin last week which will see G7 countries share
their Covid inspired initiatives, including those on detection
and surveillance.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- The full resolution is available here: Strengthening clinical
trials to provide high-quality evidence on health interventions
and to improve research quality and coordination (who.int)
