WHO Member States Forge Landmark Agreement to Combat Future Pandemics

Member nations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) have reached a significant consensus on a legally binding agreement aimed at preparing the globe for future pandemics, the UN agency announced on Wednesday. The accord, finalized after more than three years of intensive discussions, lays out comprehensive strategies to strengthen international collaboration and enhance preparedness against emerging pathogens, following the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which tragically claimed millions of lives between 2020 and 2022. The agreement encompasses the establishment of a system for pathogen access and benefit-sharing, alongside a commitment to cultivate geographically diverse research and development capabilities. It also proposes the creation of a global network for supply chains and logistics, while advocating for stronger, more resilient healthcare systems across all member countries. “After more than three years of intensive negotiations, WHO member states took a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from pandemics,” the organisation stated. This development is widely regarded as a triumph for the WHO, which has faced increasing pressure in recent years due to substantial reductions in foreign funding, particularly from the United States. The United States, once a pivotal participant in early discussions, withdrew from the negotiations earlier this year following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in February, which also formalized the country’s departure from the WHO. Despite Washington’s withdrawal, global health experts have lauded the agreement as a testament to international unity and the crucial role of multilateral action. “This is a historic moment and a show, that with or without the US, countries are committed to working together and to the power of multilateralism,” Nina Schwalbe, founder of Spark Street Advisors, a global health think tank, told Reuters. The proposal is slated for formal consideration at the World Health Assembly policy meeting scheduled for May.