Geneva: After more than three years of intensive negotiations, WHO Member States have taken a major step forward in efforts to enhance global pandemic security by finalizing a draft pandemic agreement. This draft will be presented for consideration at the forthcoming World Health Assembly in May, aiming to bolster global collaboration for the prevention, preparedness, and response to future pandemic threats.
According to National News Agency – Lebanon, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) was established in December 2021 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The INB’s mandate was to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement, or other international instrument under the WHO Constitution to strengthen pandemic-related efforts. After 13 rounds of formal meetings, the INB has now finalized a proposal for the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which will be submitted to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly.
“The nations of the world made history in Geneva today,” remarked Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WH
O Director-General. He highlighted the significance of reaching consensus on the Pandemic Agreement, stating that it not only establishes a generational accord to enhance global safety but also demonstrates the viability of multilateralism. Dr. Tedros expressed gratitude to WHO’s Member States and their negotiating teams for their dedication and anticipates the World Health Assembly’s consideration and potential adoption of the agreement.
The draft agreement includes proposals to establish a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, adopt a One Health approach for pandemic prevention, enhance research and development capacities globally, and facilitate technology transfer for pandemic-related health products. It also emphasizes the importance of building a skilled global health emergency workforce, creating a financial mechanism for coordination, and setting up a global supply chain and logistics network. Importantly, the proposal respects national sovereignty in addressing public health matters and does n
ot mandate specific actions such as travel bans, vaccination mandates, or lockdowns.
Dr. Tedros acknowledged the leadership of the Bureau members who guided the INB process, including Co-Chairs Ms. Precious Matsoso (South Africa) and Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou (France), and several Vice-Chairs from Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, and Australia. He also recognized the past contributions of former members and the ongoing support from WHO Secretariat colleagues.
Ms. Matsoso expressed her joy over the collective effort of countries from all regions in developing a proposal that aims to increase equity and protect future generations from pandemic impacts. She emphasized the shared understanding that viruses do not respect borders and highlighted the importance of collective health security.
Ambassador Amprou, co-chair of the INB, described the draft agreement as a significant step in strengthening global health security architecture, ensuring better protection against future pandemics. She emphasized the commitment
to the One Health approach and highlighted the agreement’s role in fostering faster, more effective, and equitable responses to global health threats.
The INB was formed during a special session of the World Health Assembly in December 2021, comprising Member States and relevant stakeholders such as international organizations, the private sector, and civil society. During the World Health Assembly in June 2024, governments pledged to finalize negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year. The upcoming Assembly starting 19 May 2025 will deliberate on the proposal and decide whether to adopt the instrument under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution.