WHO Member States meet to adopt historic pandemic agreement

SWITZERLAND—In a landmark move aimed at safeguarding the world from future health crises, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have unanimously adopted the world’s first-ever Pandemic Agreement.

This historic decision was reached during the 78th World Health Assembly, marking the culmination of over three years of intense negotiations that began in the wake of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.

The new agreement represents a major step forward in global health cooperation, designed to make the world safer and more equitable when responding to future pandemics.

It sets out clear principles, strategies, and tools for improved international coordination, focusing on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

A key element of the agreement is ensuring fair and timely access to essential health products such as vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tools.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, highlighted the significance of this achievement during the assembly.

He emphasized that the world is now safer thanks to the leadership, collaboration, and commitment of WHO Member States to adopt this historic agreement.

Dr. Tedros described the agreement as a victory for public health, science, and multilateral cooperation.

Importantly, he noted that it reflects a shared recognition that citizens, societies, and economies must not be left vulnerable to the kind of losses experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The formal adoption took place in a plenary session of the World Health Assembly, which is WHO’s highest decision-making body.

This followed a vote in the committee stage where 124 Member States voted in favor, none opposed, and 11 abstained, demonstrating strong global support.

Presiding over the adoption, Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Health and President of this year’s World Health Assembly, praised the dedication and urgency shown by governments worldwide during the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

He noted that the agreement was negotiated with respect for national sovereignty and stressed the importance of acting with the same urgency to implement its critical provisions.

These include establishing systems to guarantee equitable access to life-saving health products during pandemics.

Dr. Herbosa also pointed out that while COVID-19 was a once-in-a-lifetime emergency, the Pandemic Agreement offers a unique opportunity to learn from that crisis.

 It aims to ensure that people around the world are better protected should another pandemic arise.

Importantly, the agreement respects national sovereignty.

It explicitly states that nothing within it grants the WHO Secretariat or Director-General authority to override national laws or policies.

This means no mandates or orders can be imposed on countries regarding travel bans, vaccination requirements, lockdowns, or other public health measures.

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