Sam F. Halabi Journalist Profile

Articles

There is no better alternative to the World Health Organization

1 week ago | thehill.com | Sam F. Halabi |Lawrence O. Gostin

When President Trump issued an executive order withdrawing from the World Health Organization on his first day in office, he pledged to “identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.”Since that time, the president’s supporters have doubled down on the idea that we can find an alternative to the WHO via many outlets, including this opinion page. But the truth is, we can’t and we won’t.
Advancing equity, from COVID-19 to Mpox

Aug 27, 2024 | thehindu.com | Kashish Aneja |Sam F. Halabi |Lawrence O. Gostin

Less than five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the world faces the threat of another global health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) has, once again, declared mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), following its outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Africa, and subsequently spreading to over a dozen African countries.
Another Pandemic Looms. Guess What? We’re Still Not Ready.

Aug 22, 2024 | almendron.com | Alexandra Finch |Lawrence O. Gostin |Sam F. Halabi

Just one day after the World Health Organization declared the deadly mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, Sweden reported its first case of a dangerous strain of the disease (and there may be more cases). The threat of a pandemic of mpox is here yet again. To curb this crisis, the affected countries in Africa need tests, vaccines and people to respond. Now.
Where Are the Mpox Vaccines?

Aug 21, 2024 | nytimes.com | Lawrence O. Gostin |Sam F. Halabi |Alexandra Finch

Just one day after the World Health Organization declared the deadly mpox outbreak in Africa a global health emergency, Sweden reported its first case of a dangerous strain of the disease (and there may be more cases). The threat of a pandemic of mpox is here yet again. To curb this crisis, the affected countries in Africa need tests, vaccines and people to respond. Now.
The global struggle for a pandemic treaty

Jul 31, 2024 | thehindu.com | Kashish Aneja |Sam F. Halabi |Lawrence O. Gostin

After great fanfare and over two years of political negotiations, 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to finalise a historic Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to fortify global pandemic preparedness, implement mechanisms for prevention of the same, and reduce unconscionable inequities that were painfully obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global struggle for a pandemic treaty

Jul 31, 2024 | thehindu.com | Kashish Aneja |Sam F. Halabi |Lawrence O. Gostin

After great fanfare and over two years of political negotiations, 194 World Health Organization (WHO) member states failed to finalise a historic Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to fortify global pandemic preparedness, implement mechanisms for prevention of the same, and reduce unconscionable inequities that were painfully obvious during the COVID-19 pandemic.
[GUEST ESSAY] Principles to Guide the Pathogen Access-and-Benefit Sharing System [PABS] in a Pandemic Agreement; Update: Proposal to Buy More Time to Operationalize PABS by May 2026

Apr 15, 2024 | genevahealthfiles.substack.com | Lawrence O. Gostin |Sam F. Halabi |Jayashree Watal |Priti Patnaik

Hi, In order to bridge the schism between countries on key matters at stake in the negotiations towards a new Pandemic Agreement, a range of stakeholders are working behind-the-scenes to help push towards a logical conclusion in this three year old process. We have noted before, how many negotiators see the Pathogen Access-and-Benefit Sharing System as a litmus test for equity in the overall reforms of Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.
Is the Pace of IHR Reform Legal?

Mar 20, 2024 | law.georgetown.edu | Alexandra Finch |Sam F. Halabi |Lawrence O. Gostin

By Alexandra Finch, LLB, LLM; Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil; Lawrence O. Gostin, JD, LLD (Hon)O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law CenterIn May, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) will decide whether to adopt reforms to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) which have the potential to transform how the world prepares for and responds to pandemic threats.
Opinion: Imagine a health COP getting as much attention as climate COPs

Feb 7, 2024 | devex.com | Sam F. Halabi |Olohikhuae Egbokhare |Lawrence O. Gostin

At the World Economic Forum annual meeting last month, Bill Gates suggested a Conference of the Parties for global health, just like the COP for climate, which would ensure that health stays near the top of the global agenda. That is exactly what the world’s efforts for pandemic preparedness and response, or PPR, need.
“An obligation to speak”: Georgetown faculty organize for justice in Palestine

Jan 19, 2024 | georgetownvoice.com | Franzi Wild |Katie Doran |Rochelle Davis |Sam F. Halabi

Georgetown Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP), a newly formed faculty and staff group to support Palestinian liberation, held a vigil Thursday afternoon to memorialize and commemorate their academic colleagues murdered in Gaza. Each faculty member held a sign about an academic who had been killed by Israeli forces, and, when prompted, read the biography before the crowd of around 100 attendees who collectively repeated each name. Since Oct.