Muscat, The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Health is facilitating with the cooperation of the Global Health Centre at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva the virtual regional workshop on options and benefits of a pandemic treaty, convened today with the participation of countries in Eastern Mediterranean region.

The event is held in line with Oman’s preparation for discussions at the special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) from 29 Nov – 1 Dec 2021 to consider the benefits of developing a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic preparedness and response, with a view towards the establishment of an intergovernmental process to draft and negotiate such instrument.

The COVID-19 crisis has evidenced the need to adopt international regulations commensurate with the new level of globalization and interrelationship among world’s countries and various economic and social sectors. Therefore, the World Health Assembly established the Member States Working Group on Strengthening WHO Preparedness and Response to Health Emergencies where the outcomes of the working groups will be reviewed during the special session. The group recommended strengthening IHR, last updated in 2005, in addition to developing an international pandemic agreement or treaty.

Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health and Shaikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Foreign Ministry’s Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs participated in the meeting along with a number of MOH’s senior officials. Many ministers of health and technical experts at diplomatic missions and governments attended the workshop.

Source: Oman News Agency