Member states of the World Health Organization have resumed negotiations aimed at finalizing a pandemic agreement based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO members began the negotiations two years ago with the aim of strengthening global measures to prevent infectious diseases and the spread of new viruses.
The member countries are aiming for the pandemic agreement to be adopted at the WHO's general assembly in May.
The final of a series of meetings on the agreement began behind closed doors on Monday at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The draft agreement, which was released earlier, urges each party to develop and periodically update comprehensive national pandemic prevention and public health surveillance plans.
It also says that each party shall mobilize additional financial resources to assist developing countries.
The draft agreement is aimed at promoting the transfer of technology and know-how so that vaccines and drugs can be produced in developing countries.
It encourages research and development institutes and manufacturers to forgo or reduce royalties on the use of technology for the production of pandemic-related health products during the pandemic.
Informed sources say developing countries demand that the holders of relevant patents forgo royalties but developed nations are concerned about the impact that could have on their pharmaceutical firms.
It remains uncertain whether the two sides can reach an agreement before the final meeting wraps up on May 10.
A representative from Indonesia said that people learned from the COVID-19 where the developing countries had difficulties in accessing vaccines and drugs.
The official expressed hope that the treaty can finally be accepted by all members.