After more than three years of negotiations, World Health Organization (WHO) member states have reached a consensus on a draft pandemic agreement designed to strengthen global preparedness for future health emergencies. The agreement, finalized on April 16, 2025, will be submitted for formal consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May.
"The nations of the world made history in Geneva today," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD. "In reaching consensus on the Pandemic Agreement, not only did they put in place a generational accord to make the world safer, they have also demonstrated that multilateralism is alive and well, and that in our divided world, nations can still work together to find common ground and a shared response to shared threats."
Key Components of the Draft Agreement
The draft pandemic agreement focuses on several critical areas of global health security:
- Establishing a comprehensive knowledge-sharing system
- Implementing measures for pandemic prevention through a One Health approach
- Developing geographically diverse research and development capacities
- Deploying a skilled, trained, and multidisciplinary health emergency workforce
- Creating a coordinating financial mechanism
- Building a robust global supply chain and logistics network
- Strengthening health system functions and resilience
Precious Matsoso, Director-General of South Africa's National Department of Health and co-chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), expressed optimism about the agreement: "I am overjoyed by the coming together of countries, from all regions of the world, around a proposal to increase equity and, thereby, protect future generations from the suffering and losses we suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Preserving National Sovereignty
A significant aspect of the agreement is its explicit recognition of national sovereignty. The draft clarifies that nothing in the agreement grants the WHO authority to direct or mandate national laws or policies. Countries retain their right to handle public health issues within their own borders, including decisions about:
- Accepting or banning travelers
- Requiring vaccinations
- Using specific treatments or diagnostic tests
- Implementing lockdowns or other containment measures
This clarification addresses concerns about potential overreach by the global health body and emphasizes the collaborative rather than directive nature of the agreement.
Historical Significance
The pandemic agreement represents only the second time in the WHO's 75-year history that member countries have reached a binding agreement, underscoring its significance in global health governance. The accord comes at a challenging time for international cooperation, with the United States beginning a 12-month process of withdrawal from the WHO under the Trump administration.
Anne-Claire Amprou, French ambassador for global health and INB co-chair, highlighted the agreement's importance: "In drafting this historic agreement, the countries of the world have demonstrated their shared commitment to preventing and protecting everyone, everywhere, from future pandemic threats. While the commitment to prevention through the One Health approach is a major step forward in protecting populations, the response will be faster, more effective and more equitable."
Equity and Global Cooperation
The agreement places significant emphasis on equity in pandemic response, addressing disparities that became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. By facilitating technology transfer, enhancing research capacities in diverse geographic regions, and establishing coordinated supply chains, the agreement aims to ensure more equitable access to countermeasures during future health emergencies.
"The negotiations, at times, have been difficult and protracted," noted Matsoso. "But this monumental effort has been sustained by the shared understanding that viruses do not respect borders, that no one is safe from pandemics until everyone is safe, and that collective health security is an aspiration we deeply believe in and want to strengthen."
As the draft moves toward consideration at the World Health Assembly, health officials and policy experts will be closely examining its provisions and implications for global pandemic preparedness. If approved, the agreement would establish a framework for international cooperation that could significantly improve the world's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to future pandemic threats.
