- Agreement’s adoption follows three years of intensive negotiation launched due to gaps and inequities identified in national and global COVID-19 response.
- Agreement boosts global collaboration to ensure stronger, more equitable response to future pandemics.
- Next steps include negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing system.
On May 20, 2025, a major step was taken toward strengthening global health security as an international pandemic agreement was formally adopted, reads a WHO release.
The accord, the result of years of negotiation, is designed to enhance preparedness, promote equity, and ensure a faster and fairer response to future health emergencies.
Key provisions of the pandemic agreement
The agreement includes several key measures aimed at preventing and mitigating future pandemics:
- Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System: Establishes a framework for the rapid and equitable sharing of pathogens and the benefits derived from their use.
- One Health Approach: Promotes coordinated health action across human, animal, and environmental sectors to address threats at their source.
- Research and Development: Supports the creation of diverse regional hubs to foster innovation and ensure access to critical medical tools worldwide.
- Technology Transfer and Knowledge Sharing: Enhances global capacity to produce vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments, especially in lower-income countries.
- Global Health Emergency Workforce: Calls for the establishment of a trained and deployable health emergency response team.
- Financial Mechanism: Proposes a global fund to support pandemic preparedness and ensure resources are available where they are most needed.
- Health System Strengthening: Encourages investment in national health systems, including surveillance, infrastructure, and emergency response capabilities.
- Supply Chain and Logistics Network: Aims to secure a reliable flow of medical supplies and equipment during crises through a global logistics system.
These provisions collectively aim to build a more resilient global health system capable of responding swiftly and equitably when future pandemics arise.
Global reactions and challenges
The agreement was welcomed by a broad coalition of nations as a critical tool for collective health protection. While not all countries took part in the final stages, the overwhelming consensus underscored the urgency of global unity. Implementation, however, remains a significant challenge, requiring ongoing cooperation, sufficient funding, and political will.
The adoption of the pandemic agreement marks a turning point in how the world prepares for and responds to health emergencies. With shared responsibilities and commitments in place, the global community has taken a foundational step toward preventing another pandemic from causing the scale of disruption seen in recent years.
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Source: WHO
