Explainer: How the World Health Organization might face future pandemics

The WHO itself is facing calls for reform after an independent panel described it as "underpowered" when Covid-19 struck, with limited powers to investigate outbreaks and coordinate containment measures. Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pandemics began at the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, with a target date of May 2024 for a treaty to be adopted by the UN health agency's 194 member countries.

A new pact is among more than 200 recommendations for shoring up the world's defences against new pathogens made by various reviewers following the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed more than 6.2m people in two years.