by Charlotte Hazard
Republican governors, attorneys general and lawmakers are working together to apply maximum pressure to stop the World Health Organization from assuming up-to-date powers to impose decisions on the United States and other member countries during future public health crises.
Political leaders warn that changes the WHO wants to make to its members’ contracts, and which the Biden administration generally supports, will bring foreigners into the doctor-patient relationship here in America.
At least one Republican, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (pictured above), has gone to court in an attempt to force the Biden administration not to accept changes being considered by the WHO this week.
“We filed a lawsuit to stop this from happening because the Biden administration cannot compel us to follow international health regulations and guidelines,” Paxton told The Times on Thursday. Only news, no noise Television show.
The global health organization is trying to do just that prepare for future pandemics by creating a unified policy that would guide countries on how to respond to global crises faster than was the case with Covid-19.
“Throughout more than two years of intense negotiations, WHO Member States have demonstrated unwavering commitment to reaching a generational agreement to protect the world from a repeat of the horrors caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – wrote in the press release. “I welcome the determination that all countries have shown to continue their work and fulfill the mission they have started.”
One of the most controversial aspects of the agreement, which will not be part of the draft agreement, is the “pathogen access and benefits system”. The system would codify the sharing of materials about up-to-date viruses or strains that could potentially lead to another pandemic. Negotiators hope that sharing the materials will ensure that all countries benefit equitably from future vaccines, drugs and tests.
Paxton said he believes health decisions should be left to individual states.
“We all believe that the power to transfer this control to an international organization … certainly the states have never agreed to that,” he said. “And we certainly don’t believe that the federal government has the authority to impose that on us.”
Earlier this month, all 49 Republican senators signed the letter and sent it to President Joe Biden, urging him to reject two international agreements that would raise the WHO’s power.
“We strongly urge you not to join any contemplated pandemic-related treaties, conventions or agreements” at the 77th World Health Assembly, the letter said.
Republican governors from twenty states he also sent a letter to Biden opposing the proposed changes, arguing that they could “undermine national sovereignty”.
Twenty-two GOP attorneys general also criticized the changes, stating that if they were to pass“WHO would transform from a charitable advisory organization into a global public health governor.”
“The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed fundamental flaws in the WHO and other public health institutions,” he added. we read in the letter. “These entities have violated public trust and undoubtedly require reforms. However, the proposed measures would only exacerbate WHO’s underlying problems and enable more violations of civil liberties during future “emergencies.”
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Charlotte Hazard is a reporter for Just the News.
Photo “Ken Paxton” by Ken Paxton. Cover photo “Headquarters of the World Health Organization” by Yann CC BY-SA 3.0.
