World Health Assembly adopts historic Pandemic Agreement

On May 20, 2025, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) formally adopted the first-ever legally binding international Pandemic Agreement at the 78th World Health Assembly. This milestone follows over three years of negotiations initiated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to create a safer, more equitable global health response system.

Key Features:

• Adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, making it only the second such agreement (after the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control).
• Designed to comprehensively address pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
• Promotes international cooperation, data sharing, and equitable access to pandemic tools.

Five Primary Objectives:

1. Ensure equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics.
2. Strengthen collaboration through pathogen and data sharing.
3. Support resilient health systems, especially in low-resource settings.
4. Promote knowledge and technology transfer for local manufacturing.
5. Establish sustainable funding mechanisms for rapid pandemic response.

Next Steps:

• The agreement is now open for signature and ratification.
• It becomes legally binding upon ratification by 60 countries.
• A resolution was adopted to draft a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, with an annex to be negotiated by an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG).
• The outcome will be presented at the 2026 World Health Assembly.

(Source: WH))