Geneva — In a rare show of unity, countries across the globe have agreed to a landmark pandemic accord aimed at preventing the chaos and inequality seen during COVID-19 from repeating.
The decision, made at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, comes after more than three years of tense negotiations. The agreement lays out how nations should work together to detect, prepare for, and respond to future global health emergencies with a clear focus on fairness and swift action.
“The world is safer today,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “This agreement is a win for public health, for science, and for international cooperation.”
Dr Tedros praised member states for pushing through differences and prioritising a shared vision. “We must never again find ourselves unprepared, unequal, and vulnerable as we were during COVID-19,” he told delegates in a packed hall.
The measure was approved by 124 countries, with no objections and 11 abstentions.
Dr Teodoro Herbosa, who presided over the Assembly and heads the Philippines’ Department of Health, described the agreement as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to act on lessons from the COVID crisis.”
He added, “The hard work starts now. We must move with urgency to put the agreement into practice and ensure everyone no matter where they live can access life-saving tools when the next pandemic strikes.”
What the Agreement Covers
The WHO Pandemic Agreement doesn’t just aim to prevent the next pandemic it sets out how the world should react when one hits.
It calls for:
- Stronger international coordination, especially in the early stages of an outbreak
- Equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and tests
- Faster sharing of data and pathogens to enable quicker responses
- Improved surveillance systems and early warning networks
Critically, it recognises that poorer nations were left behind during COVID-19. In theory, the new deal creates mechanisms to avoid that.
A key next step is the development of a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System or PABS that will govern how virus samples and the benefits from related scientific advances are shared. A working group has been formed to draft this system, with a report due at next year’s Assembly.
Once the PABS annex is finalised and adopted, countries can begin signing and ratifying the full agreement. It will enter into force after 60 nations have ratified it through their domestic systems.
A Long Road to Consensus
Talks around the deal began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the urgency was clear, progress was often slow. Wealthier nations were wary of binding commitments. Others demanded clearer guarantees around fairness and support during crises.
That the agreement passed with such broad support is being seen as a diplomatic success for the WHO.
“This could reshape how the world thinks about public health,” said one Western delegate who asked not to be named. “But only if the political will holds.”
Many challenges remain. Funding, compliance, and questions of sovereignty will no doubt re-emerge once countries begin implementing the accord. But for now, global health experts are celebrating what they call a crucial step forward.
“COVID-19 exposed cracks in our global health systems,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO’s director for public health. “This agreement is about patching those cracks before the next crisis because there will be a next time.”
