<p>The head of the World Health Organization on Monday urged countries to carry out the reforms needed to prepare for the next pandemic and honour a previous commitment to boost financing for the UN health agency.</p>.<p>Speaking at the WHO's annual health assembly weeks after ending the global emergency status for the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/covid-19" target="_blank">Covid-19 pandemic</a>, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next one.</p>.<p>"We cannot kick this can down the road," WHO Director-General said in a major address to the agency's member states, warning that the next pandemic was bound to "come knocking".</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/who-warns-against-bias-misinformation-in-using-ai-in-healthcare-1219238.html" target="_blank">WHO warns against bias, misinformation in using AI in healthcare</a></strong></p>.<p>"If we do not make the changes that must be made, then who will? And if we do not make them now, then when?" he said.</p>.<p>The 10-day annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, which coincides with the body's 75th anniversary, is set to address global health challenges including future pandemics.</p>.<p>The WHO's 194 member states are currently negotiating reforms to the binding rules that fix their obligations in the event of an international health threat and are also drafting a broader pandemic treaty which is up for ratification next year.</p>.<p>"A commitment from this generation (to a pandemic accord) is important, because it is this generation that experienced how awful a small virus could be," said Tedros. Countries are also set to consider later on Monday the WHO's 2024-2025 budget which includes increases to countries' annual fees.</p>
<p>The head of the World Health Organization on Monday urged countries to carry out the reforms needed to prepare for the next pandemic and honour a previous commitment to boost financing for the UN health agency.</p>.<p>Speaking at the WHO's annual health assembly weeks after ending the global emergency status for the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/covid-19" target="_blank">Covid-19 pandemic</a>, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was time to advance negotiations on preventing the next one.</p>.<p>"We cannot kick this can down the road," WHO Director-General said in a major address to the agency's member states, warning that the next pandemic was bound to "come knocking".</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/who-warns-against-bias-misinformation-in-using-ai-in-healthcare-1219238.html" target="_blank">WHO warns against bias, misinformation in using AI in healthcare</a></strong></p>.<p>"If we do not make the changes that must be made, then who will? And if we do not make them now, then when?" he said.</p>.<p>The 10-day annual World Health Assembly in Geneva, which coincides with the body's 75th anniversary, is set to address global health challenges including future pandemics.</p>.<p>The WHO's 194 member states are currently negotiating reforms to the binding rules that fix their obligations in the event of an international health threat and are also drafting a broader pandemic treaty which is up for ratification next year.</p>.<p>"A commitment from this generation (to a pandemic accord) is important, because it is this generation that experienced how awful a small virus could be," said Tedros. Countries are also set to consider later on Monday the WHO's 2024-2025 budget which includes increases to countries' annual fees.</p>