Australian Health Minister Meets With WHO Director General in Geneva

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Australian Health Minister Mark Butler met with World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Geneva.

The two leaders discussed the pandemic accord, negotiations on International Health Regulations (IHR) amendments, and ending HIV.

In a post to X, Mr. Ghebreyesus shared two photos shaking hands with Mr. Butler and a third photo in discussion with multiple officials.

“Met with Australia’s Health Minister Mark Butler MP to discuss their work to end HIV, the Pandemic Accord, and the International Health Regulations Amendments negotiations, and the WHO Investment Round,” he wrote.

Mr. Butler shared the post, but did not elaborate on the details of his meeting with Mr. Ghebreyesus.

This came after Mr. Butler told the 77th World Health Assembly that Australia is “fully committed” to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

“Australia remains fully committed to completing the WHO pandemic agreement. Together we have come a very long way from where we started just two and a half years ago with a blank page and a shared ambition,” he said during Committee A on May 28.

“An ambition for a set of binding commitments to prevent another pandemic and to be better prepared to respond more effectively and importantly more equitably when the next pandemic hits.”

Mr. Butler said the negotiators on the pandemic agreement, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), has developed into a “distinguished bureau.”

At the annual event, the countries reached an agreement on new amendments to the IHR.

The assembly also committed to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year, if not sooner. Originally, they planned to conclude negotiations before the 77th assembly.

What Did the World Health Assembly Achieve?

The World Health Assembly agreed on a “decisive” package of IHR amendments (pdf) in Geneva.

These changes include clearly defining “pandemic emergency” and requiring each member state party to the agreement to establish one or two entities to serve as the National International Health Regulations Authority.

This new authority shall be “accessible for communications” with WHO contact points at all times, according to the regulations.

The state parties shall also take measures to implement this national authority, including “adjusting their domestic legislative and/or administrative arrangements” as appropriate.

The amendments also note that WHO shall support state parties upon request or agreement with the WHO to “coordinate international response activities during public health emergencies of international concern.”

The WHO will also work to remove barriers to “equitable access” to health products during a public health emergency.

The 194 member countries also committed to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year, at the latest.

“These critical actions have been taken in order to ensure comprehensive, robust systems are in place in all countries to protect the health and safety of all people everywhere from the risk of future outbreaks and pandemics,” the WHO claims.

Global health leaders also met to discuss the “critical intersection of climate change and health.”

“This event, held in anticipation of COP 29 and as part of the World Health Assembly, aimed to bolster momentum and shape the global health architecture for tackling climate change,” the WHO said.

Australian Draft Resolution Requesting WHO Meet Again

Australia drafted a resolution requesting the director general to convene a special session of the World Health Assembly before the end of 2024 to consider an updated Intergovernmental Negotiating Body Draft (pdf).

Mr. Butler explained that Mr. Ghebreyesus had urged negotiators to use the assembly to re-energise and recalibrate the process, adding, “that is what we intend to do.”

“That is why Australia worked with a cross regional group over the weekend and yesterday, to table a draft decision reflecting the available options to finalise the agreement,” Mr. Butler said.

He told the assembly this is an incredibly important decision that needs to be made together.

“We very much look forward to finding consensus in the next drafting group proposed by the chair, so that the path to finalise the pandemic agreement is clear,” he told the assembly in Geneva.

“Now is the time to redouble our efforts to resolve the remaining challenges and deliver on this historic opportunity to achieve better health outcomes for all in responding to future pandemics and public health emergencies.

“Australia stands ready to deliver on this ambition. We cannot afford to fail.”

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts expressed concern on May 29 that Mr. Butler was in Geneva campaigning for “mandatory regulations.”

“The WHO will persist in their attempts to expand their power unless we stop them,” Mr. Roberts said.

Mr. Roberts and cross party MP’s including Senator Alex Antic had written to the government ahead of the assembly calling on the Prime Minister to walk away from the WHO pandemic agreement.

“We have received a large volume of correspondence from Australians who are rightly concerned about the IHR amendments and the WHO Pandemic Treaty, and we share those concerns,” the group said in a letter dated May 14.