New Delhi: On May 20, 2025, the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) marked a historic milestone by formally adopting the world’s first Pandemic Agreement. This landmark decision, reached by consensus at the WHO’s Geneva headquarters, represents a transformative step in global health governance, aimed at bolstering international cooperation to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. The agreement, finalized last month after over three years of intensive negotiations, is the second international legal agreement negotiated under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, following the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003.
Background and Significance of the WHO Pandemic Agreement
The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement comes in the wake of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed critical vulnerabilities in global health systems and underscored the need for coordinated international action. Negotiations for the agreement began during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, driven by governments’ collective resolve to prevent a repeat of the widespread losses—human, social, and economic—experienced during the pandemic. The agreement, adopted under the authority of Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, which empowers the WHA to adopt conventions or agreements on matters within its competence with a two-thirds vote, is a testament to global solidarity and multilateral action.
According to the WHO, the Pandemic Agreement is designed to “make the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics.” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the agreement as “a victory for public health, science, and multilateral action,” emphasizing its role in ensuring that societies, economies, and citizens are better protected against future pandemic threats. “The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration, and commitment of our Member States,” Dr. Tedros stated, highlighting the agreement’s significance in addressing the inequities and challenges exposed by COVID-19.
Key Highlights of the WHO Pandemic Agreement
The WHO Pandemic Agreement sets out a comprehensive framework to strengthen global health architecture across several critical areas. Below are the key highlights of the agreement, each addressing a specific aspect of pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response:
1. Strengthening Pandemic Prevention and Surveillance
The agreement builds on the foundation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005, which provide a global framework for preventing, controlling, and responding to the international spread of diseases. The IHR serves as a cornerstone for public health responses to public health emergencies of international concern (PHEICs). The Pandemic Agreement reinforces these regulations by emphasizing enhanced surveillance systems, early detection mechanisms, and coordinated global responses to potential pandemic threats. By improving global monitoring and information-sharing, the agreement aims to enable faster and more effective interventions to contain outbreaks before they escalate.
2. Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network
A critical component of the agreement is the establishment of a Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network to ensure equitable and timely access to pandemic-related health products during PHEICs. This network is designed to address the supply chain disruptions and inequities that plagued the global response to COVID-19, where access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics was unevenly distributed. The agreement mandates that this network will facilitate the rapid distribution of essential health products to countries based on public health risk and need, with a particular focus on supporting developing nations.
3. Sustainable Financing Mechanism
To ensure the effective implementation of the Pandemic Agreement, a Coordinating Financial Mechanism under the IHR has been established. This mechanism aims to provide sustainable funding for pandemic preparedness and response activities, addressing the financial barriers that many countries face in building resilient health systems. By securing reliable funding, the agreement ensures that nations can invest in infrastructure, training, and resources necessary to mitigate future pandemic risks.
4. Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS)
One of the agreement’s most innovative features is the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS). The WHA has launched a process to draft and negotiate PABS through an Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG), with the results to be considered at the next World Health Assembly in 2026. PABS is designed to ensure the rapid and timely sharing of biological materials and sequence information on pathogens with pandemic potential. This system addresses a critical lesson from COVID-19: the need for equitable access to pathogen data to enable the development of life-saving medical countermeasures.
Under PABS, pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the system are required to provide WHO with rapid access to 20% of their real-time production of safe, quality, and effective vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics for pathogens causing a pandemic emergency. These products will be distributed to countries based on public health risk and need, prioritizing developing nations to ensure equitable access. This provision marks a significant step toward addressing the inequities in access to medical countermeasures that were evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Enforcement and Implementation
The WHO Pandemic Agreement will be open for signature and ratification by member states once the PABS framework is finalized. The agreement will enter into force after 60 countries ratify it, ensuring a robust legal framework for its enforcement. This process underscores the importance of global commitment to the agreement’s principles and the urgency of implementing its provisions to safeguard public health.
Global Reactions and Leadership
The adoption of the Pandemic Agreement has been widely celebrated as a landmark achievement in global health governance. Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Health and President of the 78th World Health Assembly, presided over the agreement’s adoption and emphasized its significance. “Starting during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments from all corners of the world acted with great purpose, dedication, and urgency, and in doing so exercising their national sovereignty, to negotiate the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement that has been adopted today,” Dr. Herbosa said.
He further stressed the need for continued urgency in implementing the agreement’s critical elements, particularly systems to ensure equitable access to life-saving health products. “As COVID was a once-in-a-lifetime emergency, the WHO Pandemic Agreement offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build on lessons learned from that crisis and ensure people worldwide are better protected if a future pandemic emerges,” he added.
Dr. Tedros echoed these sentiments, noting that the agreement is a recognition by the international community that “our citizens, societies, and economies must not be left vulnerable to again suffer losses like those endured during COVID-19.” The consensus-driven nature of the agreement’s finalization last month reflects the collaborative spirit that underpinned its development, with member states working together to overcome complex challenges and competing priorities.
Implications for Global Health Equity
The WHO Pandemic Agreement places a strong emphasis on equity, particularly in addressing the needs of developing countries. The commitment to equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics through the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network and PABS is a direct response to the disparities observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where wealthier nations secured disproportionate access to critical health resources. By prioritizing public health risk and need in the distribution of these products, the agreement seeks to ensure that no country is left behind in the face of a future pandemic.
The PABS system, in particular, represents a groundbreaking approach to global health cooperation. By guaranteeing that countries sharing virus samples receive tests, medicines, and vaccines in return, the agreement incentivizes transparency and collaboration in pathogen surveillance. This reciprocal approach not only fosters trust among nations but also accelerates the development and deployment of medical countermeasures.
Challenges and Next Steps
While the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement is a monumental achievement, its success will depend on effective implementation. The development of the PABS framework through the IGWG will be a critical next step, requiring careful negotiation to balance the interests of governments, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and public health stakeholders. Ensuring that the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network operates efficiently and equitably will also require significant coordination and investment.
Moreover, the sustainable financing mechanism must be adequately resourced to support the agreement’s ambitious goals. Member states will need to commit to providing the necessary funding and political will to translate the agreement’s principles into actionable outcomes. The ratification process, requiring 60 countries to formally endorse the agreement, will be another key milestone in its journey toward enforcement.
Conclusion
The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement at the 78th World Health Assembly on May 20, 2025, marks a defining moment in global health security. By strengthening pandemic prevention and surveillance, establishing a global supply chain network, securing sustainable financing, and introducing the innovative PABS system, the agreement lays the foundation for a more resilient and equitable global health architecture. As the world reflects on the lessons of COVID-19, this historic agreement offers a beacon of hope, demonstrating the power of international cooperation to safeguard humanity against future pandemic threats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the WHO Pandemic Agreement, and why is it significant?
The WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted on May 20, 2025, at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, is the world’s first international legal agreement aimed at enhancing global cooperation for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. Negotiated under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, it is the second such agreement after the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2003). Its significance lies in addressing the vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, promoting equitable access to health resources, and strengthening global health systems to mitigate future pandemic threats.
2. What are the key components of the WHO Pandemic Agreement?
The agreement includes several critical elements:
Enforcement: The agreement will be open for signature and ratification, entering into force after 60 countries ratify it.
Pandemic Prevention and Surveillance: Strengthens global monitoring and response systems under the International Health Regulations (2005) to detect and control disease outbreaks.
Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network: Ensures equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics during public health emergencies, prioritizing developing countries.
Sustainable Financing: Establishes a Coordinating Financial Mechanism to fund pandemic preparedness and response efforts.
Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS: Facilitates rapid sharing of pathogen materials and data, with pharmaceutical manufacturers providing WHO 20% of their real-time production of health products for equitable distribution.
3. How does the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS) work?
PABS is a framework to ensure rapid sharing of biological materials and sequence information on pathogens with pandemic potential. An Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) is drafting its details, with results to be reviewed at the 2026 World Health Assembly. Participating pharmaceutical manufacturers must provide WHO with 20% of their real-time production of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics during a pandemic emergency. These products are distributed based on public health risk and need, prioritizing developing nations to ensure equitable access.
4. How will the WHO Pandemic Agreement ensure equitable access to health resources?
The agreement prioritizes equity by establishing the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network, which facilitates timely distribution of pandemic-related health products to countries based on public health needs, with a focus on supporting developing nations. The PABS system further ensures that countries sharing pathogen data receive tests, medicines, and vaccines in return, addressing the disparities seen during COVID-19 when wealthier nations secured disproportionate access to resources.
5. What are the next steps for the WHO Pandemic Agreement’s implementation?
The next steps include finalizing the PABS framework through the IGWG for consideration at the 2026 World Health Assembly. The agreement will then be open for signature and ratification by member states, requiring 60 ratifications to enter into force. Additionally, countries must work to operationalize the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network and secure sustainable financing to support the agreement’s implementation, ensuring global health systems are prepared for future pandemics.
