World Health Assembly adopts historic pandemic agreement to strengthen global preparedness
The World Health Assembly has officially adopted the world’s first-ever WHO Pandemic Agreement, marking a major milestone in global efforts to prevent and respond to future pandemics.
The agreement, endorsed by 124 countries with no objections, follows three years of intense negotiations in response to the challenges exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to ensure equity, transparency, and stronger international cooperation in the face of future global health threats.
“The world is safer today thanks to the leadership and commitment of our Member States,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This agreement is a victory for public health, science, and multilateral action.”
Key Highlights:
Equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics during pandemics.
No interference with national laws or mandates—countries retain full sovereignty.
Launch of a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system for future pandemics.
Establishment of a Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network to ensure fast and fair access to essential health products.
Pharmaceutical companies involved in the PABS system must allocate 20% of their real-time production to the WHO for global distribution based on need.
The agreement also lays the foundation for a Coordinating Financial Mechanism to support pandemic preparedness and response, especially for developing countries.
Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, President of the 78th World Health Assembly, described the deal as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to apply lessons from COVID-19 and build a more resilient global health system.
The WHO Pandemic Agreement will become legally binding after 60 member states ratify it through their national legislative processes. A final annex on the PABS system is expected to be negotiated and approved at the 2026 World Health Assembly. This marks only the second time WHO Member States have negotiated a global legal instrument under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution—the first being the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003.
