Amid criticism, WHO opens the door to reform

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The World Health Organization opened its annual meeting on Monday, May 18, by videoconference, forcing the coronavirus pandemic. Not surprisingly, Covid-19 disease was at the heart of the discussions. WHO has and has received criticism. The institution hears them and thinks of reforming itself to better respond to its future challenges.

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At 72, the World Health Organization (WHO) discovered a new concept this Monday, May 18. For the first time in its history, the annual meeting of the United Nations agency was held virtually. And for good reason: during this period of coronavirus pandemic, it was inconceivable that the 194 members of the WHO met in person, while the recommendations of social distancing are still in force almost everywhere in the world.

Today is the start of the 73rd World Health Assembly - the first ever to be convened virtually. It is an opportunity for health leaders to commit to fight # COVID19 together, in unity, in solidarity! That's the only way we can stop this pandemic and keep the world safe. # WHA73

Anthology of critics

From the outset, the tone of this assembly was intended to be offensive. Antonio Gurerres scratched the countries which “  ignored the recommendations of the WHO  ”. The UN secretary general saw "  very little unity in [our] response to Covid-19  " and regretted: "  The countries have followed different strategies, sometimes contradictory, and [we] are  paying the price. strong. [...] The virus has spread around the world and is now moving to the countries of the south, where it could have even more devastating effects.  "

WHO, targeted by US President Donald Trump who accused him of mismanagement of the crisis , received a new attack from the United States a few hours later. A kind of response, perhaps, signed Alex Azar, American Secretary of Health. "  Let us be frank about one of the main reasons that made the epidemic out of our control: this organization failed to get the information the world needed, and its failure cost many lives  ", a- he launched. It is also a way of relaunching the quarrel between the United States and China, the former accusing Beijing of having concealed the scale of the epidemic that has become a pandemic.

The words remained courteous, but the critics were present in the debates on Monday.

► Read also  : Coronavirus: the WHO warns against a hypothetical “collective immunity”

A possible vaccine will be " a global public good "

While the toll of the Covid-19 disease now exceeds 315,000 dead and 4.7 million infections, and accusations are coming from both sides, a consensus seems to emerge as to the use of a possible future vaccine: everyone wants it to be universal. Antonio Gurerres wants the search for a remedy to be “  the starting point  ” for a movement of unity against the virus.

Following in the footsteps of other world leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping has assured that a possible vaccine developed in his father will be a "  global public good  ". The head of state even promised a $ 2 billion envelope over two years, dedicated to the fight against the Covid-19.

Emmanuel Macron repeated to him in a video a speech already held a few days ago, in the middle of a controversy around the Sanofi laboratory and his desire to favor the United States before other nations in case of discovery of a vaccine. The French president insisted that a possible vaccine will be "  a global public good, to which everyone should be able to have access  ".

This is one of the most important assemblies in the history of the WHO. It must be a moment for unity, solidarity, clear thought & action in the face of what is an unprecedented global crisis affecting all of us
- # France🇫🇷 President @EmmanuelMacron # WHA73pic.twitter.com / iRWKggWQ1S

" We all have lessons to learn from this pandemic "

In this assembly, which must continue on Tuesday 19 May, there was also talk of a resolution brought by the European Union which evokes a "  process of evaluation  " to be launched as soon as possible to examine the international health response and the WHO response to the pandemic.

This possibility is not ruled out by the agency, on the contrary. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, has also promised it to the 194 member countries: "  I will launch an independent evaluation as soon as possible, at the appropriate time, to examine the experiences and lessons learned and make recommendations. to improve national and global pandemic preparedness and response.  "

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus believes that WHO and its members have "  all to learn from this pandemic  ". "  WHO is committed to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement  ," he said, noting that "  the risks remain high  " and that there is still "  a long way to go." browse  ”.

Our selection on the coronavirus

• Listen to our Coronavirus Info column 

• Our  explanations  :
→  What we know about the mode of contagion
→  Disparities and inequalities in the face of the coronavirus: what must be remembered
→  Triple therapy, Discovery… update on research
→  The race for the vaccine is in full swing
→  How to make a mask and use it well

• Our series  : "  The response, country by country  "

• After Covid-19, towards a new world?

• Each evening, find the State of the world and Africa facing the pandemic

• See also the files of RFI Savoirs on the Covid-19:
→  Birth of a pandemic
→  Everyday life put to the test
→  The history of epidemics
→  Science facing the Covid-19
→  The geopolitical consequences

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