In December 2021, the World Health Assembly established an vai de bet:Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiat💫e a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Orga𓃲nization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
The resumed ninth meeting of the INB is to be held in hybrid format from 29 April to 10 May 2024. INB9, resumed, is the final negotiating session to agree a new pandemic instrument. Representatives of WHO’s 194 Member States are expected to attend and, in the words of Dr Precious Matsoso, Co-Chair of the INB Bureau: “There is clear recognition from governments that the goal of a pandemic agreement is to prepare the world for preventing and responding to future pandemics, built on consensus, solidarity and equity. These goals must remain our North Star as we move toward the finalization of this historic, pressing commitment for the world. We know that if we fail, we will be failing humanity, including all those who suffered from COVID-19, and those at risk of future pandemics.”The closing plenary session of the INB is open to WHO Member States, Associate Members, Observers and regional economic integration organizations, as well all relevant stakeholders. The session will be publicly webcast and archived for later viewing. Substantive negotiating sessions will be held in closed format.