Doha: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that time is running out for the international community to finalize a pandemic treaty, as negotiations continue to move slowly. Speaking at the close of the second-to-last round of talks, Ghebreyesus said countries are on the brink of reaching a historic agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. After a week of discussions, only five days of formal negotiations remain, scheduled for April 7-11, with nations also agreeing to hold informal meetings in March to break the deadlock.

According to Qatar News Agency, WHO Director-General told negotiators they have made progress maybe not as much as they'd hoped, but there is progress nonetheless. Adding that the international community is at a critical moment, and they are moving toward finalizing the pandemic agreement in time for the World Health Assembly's decision in May. He stressed that they are very close closer than they think, and they are about to write history.

He urged countries not to let the deal collapse over minor wording disputes, commas, or percentages, warning against "chasing perfection at the cost of the greater good." He added that history won't forgive those who are in charge if they fail to deliver on their commitments.

The 13th round of talks kicked off as the US, amid its withdrawal from the WHO, formally notified the UN health agency that it would not take part in the treaty negotiations. Still, sources say optimism remains high for reaching an agreement despite Washington's exit.

Work on the treaty began in December 2021, spurred by fears of another crisis like COVID-19, which killed millions, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and devastated economies. While much of the draft text has been settled, major sticking points remain, particularly around sharing data on potentially dangerous pathogens and ensuring fair access to benefits like vaccines, tests, and treatments.