In an unprecedented move, the World Health Organization (WHO) has finalized a legally binding treaty to reinforce global preparedness for future pandemics. This agreement seeks to prevent the chaos and competition for resources that marred the COVID-19 response.
The treaty’s core features include a commitment to rapid data sharing on emerging diseases, paving the way for quicker development of treatments and vaccines by scientists and pharmaceutical firms. For the first time, the WHO will oversee global supply chains for masks and protective equipment, enhancing coordinated responses.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the treaty as a "significant milestone," emphasizing the power of collaboration among nations despite worldwide divisions. This landmark agreement is only the second of its kind in WHO’s 75-year history, following a similar pact on tobacco control in 2003.
While the treaty now awaits formal adoption at the upcoming World Health Assembly, it comes after lengthy negotiations, and the U.S. has opted out of final discussions due to its planned withdrawal from the WHO in 2026. Key provisions entail that countries must ensure availability of pandemic drugs globally and that manufacturers allocate 20% of their vaccine production to the WHO, contributing at least 10% as donations.
The treaty also includes clauses aimed at facilitating technology transfers to developing nations, which remain contentious given past grievances over vaccine distribution. A proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS) will allow quicker data exchange between pharmaceutical companies, fostering timely medical responses during outbreaks.
