THE government is threatening to render “toothless” a proposed pandemic international treaty and is placing pharmaceutical profits over lives, health campaigners have warned.

British, EU and US officials have blocked proposals by countries in the global South including measures to ensure equitable global access to medicines in future pandemics, and for limits on pharmaceutical monopolies.

The pandemic talks, at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, could lead to a treaty which will strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response following the Covid-19 pandemic.