In a historic decision, Member States of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have formally adopted the world’s first Pandemic Agreement, following more than three years of intensive negotiations prompted by the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The milestone was reached during a plenary session of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, marking a significant step towards safeguarding global public health and promoting equity in pandemic response.
The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by consensus is being hailed as a pivotal moment for international public health cooperation.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the Agreement as “a victory for public health, science and multilateral action,” emphasising its role in better protecting the world from future pandemic threats.
“The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration, and commitment of our Member States to adopt this historic agreement,” Dr Tedros stated. “It ensures that, collectively, we are better prepared to respond to future pandemic emergencies while recognising that no society or economy should again endure the losses experienced during COVID-19.”
The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by consensus is being hailed as a pivotal moment for international public health cooperation
The Agreement establishes a framework of principles, approaches, and tools to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response globally.
It also addresses the need for equitable and timely access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, a major challenge witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Health and President of this year’s World Health Assembly, underscored the urgency of implementing the Agreement’s provisions. “Now that this Agreement has been brought to life, we must act with the same urgency to operationalise its critical elements, particularly ensuring equitable access to life-saving health products,” he said. “The Pandemic Agreement represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to learn from the COVID-19 crisis and protect populations against future threats.”
One of the core elements of the Agreement is its commitment to respecting national sovereignty.
The text explicitly states that it does not grant the WHO, including its Director-General, authority to dictate national laws, policies or public health measures such as travel bans, vaccine mandates, or lockdowns.
The milestone was reached during a plenary session of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva
The Agreement also mandates the creation of a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, intended to facilitate the fair and timely sharing of pathogen materials and related benefits.
An Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) will lead negotiations on the PABS system over the coming year, with its recommendations due for consideration at the 79th World Health Assembly in 2026.
Further, the Agreement outlines plans for
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