World Health Organisation (WHO): Nations adopt historic pledge to guard against future pandemics
On 20th May 2025, after three years of intense negotiations in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic, the world’s first international agreement aimed at prevention, protection and response to future pandemics was adopted. The COVID-19 pandemic claimed approximately seven million lives worldwide,negatively affected the global economy and overwhelmed health systems across the globe.
The agreement was spearheaded by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at its annual World Health Assembly. The document received an overwhelming majority of approvals from WHO member states with 124 votes in favour, zero objections and 11 abstentions. The countries that abstained from the voting included Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran. Following the vote, these nations were afforded the opportunity to elucidate their positions. Russia raised concerns about sovereignty, while the Polish representative clarified that they could not endorse the deal before conducting a domestic assessment. Iran's representative expressed regret over the "lack of binding commitments on unhindered access and equitable access to medical countermeasures, technology transfer and knowhow, and continued silence on negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on health systems," stating that "key concerns of developing countries were not addressed." The United States, which had initiated a year-long process to withdraw from the WHO, made a significant intervention during the high-level segment preceding the vote. However, they opted not to participate in the voting process itself.
Throughout the extensive negotiations, concerns about national sovereignty were repeatedly raised, with some parties expressing apprehension over potential WHO interference. To address these concerns, the accord explicitly stated that nothing within its provisions grants WHO the authority to modify or obstruct national laws. Furthermore, it clarified that WHO cannot compel countries to implement specific measures such as travel restrictions, vaccine mandates, or lockdowns.
This is a remarkable achievement as the Covid pandemic exposed several disparities in diagnosis, treatment and access to vaccines within and across the nations. The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, remarked that “the agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action”, emphasizing its potential to ensure better global preparedness for future health crises. The World Health Assembly 2025, chaired by Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Health, further underscored the agreement's importance. Dr. Herbosa remarked, "Just as COVID-19 was an unprecedented emergency, the WHO Pandemic Agreement presents an unparalleled opportunity to apply the lessons learned from that crisis”.
In order to implement the agreement, an Intergovernmental Working Group will be formed to create and negotiate a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS). The outcome of this procedure will be taken into account in the 2026 World Health Assembly. The agreement will be available for signature and ratification, including by national legislative bodies, following the Assembly's adoption of the PABS appendix. After 60 ratifications, it will enter into force.