The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted the world’s first-ever pandemic agreement, aimed at creating a more equitable and secure global response to future disease outbreaks.
This historic decision, made during the 78th World Health Assembly on Tuesday, marks the culmination of more than three years of intense negotiations initiated in response to the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effort was driven by a shared commitment among governments to strengthen global health security and preparedness.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, praised the adoption of the agreement, calling it a milestone for global health. He noted that the agreement will help make the world safer, thanks to the leadership, cooperation, and dedication of WHO Member States.
Dr. Tedros described the accord as a triumph for public health, science, and multilateralism, ensuring that the global community is better equipped to face future pandemic threats together.
“This agreement represents a clear recognition by the international community that we cannot afford to leave our populations, societies, and economies exposed to the devastating losses we experienced during COVID-19,” he said.
The agreement was formally adopted during a plenary session of the Assembly, following a committee vote in which 124 countries voted in favor, none opposed, and 11 abstained.
Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Health and President of this year’s World Health Assembly, who presided over the adoption, highlighted the unified global effort behind the agreement.
“Beginning in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, governments from every region of the world negotiated with urgency, dedication, and full respect for national sovereignty to bring this historic WHO Pandemic Agreement into existence,” Dr. Herbosa said.
He emphasized that the focus must now shift to implementation: “Now that the Agreement is in place, we must act with the same urgency to operationalize its key components — especially those that ensure fair and equitable access to life-saving pandemic-related health tools and products.”
