In a historic decision this week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has adopted a new global pandemic agreement aimed at preventing the devastating fallout experienced during COVID-19 and strengthening future outbreak responses.
During the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, 124 countries formally endorsed the agreement, which outlines a framework for equitable access to medical tools, data sharing, and emergency preparedness. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the moment as “a gift to future generations,” calling it “a victory for public health, a victory for science, and a victory for multilateralism,” as reported by ABC News.
A New Framework for Pandemic Preparedness
At the heart of the agreement is the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS). This mechanism is designed to speed up the sharing of virus samples and genomic data while ensuring that 20% of all pandemic-related vaccines, tests, and treatments are reserved for the WHO, half donated and half sold at affordable prices. According to a Time article, this move is aimed at addressing vaccine nationalism and ensuring poorer nations are not left behind during health crises.
The agreement also promotes universal health coverage, investment in national health systems, and a “One Health” approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health systems.
A Divided Response: U.S. Opts Out
Notably absent from the list of signatories is the United States, which chose not to back the final agreement. As reported by the Washington Post, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticised the framework, claiming it reinforces the “very dysfunctions” that plagued the global response to COVID-19.
Filling the Funding Gap
With the U.S. stepping back, other nations and donors have stepped up to fill the void. China has pledged $500 million over five years to support WHO programs, according to the Washington Post. Meanwhile, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has committed $57 million to WHO initiatives focused on non-communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance, as reported by Reuters.
WHO’s budget will also grow significantly, with member states agreeing to increase their assessed contributions by 20%, bringing the base program budget to $4.2 billion for 2026–27, according to a WHO update.
Australia Welcomes the Agreement
Australia has thrown its support behind the agreement. Health Minister Mark Butler emphasised the need for global preparedness, saying, “The next pandemic is not a matter of if, but when. We have a collective responsibility to be ready,” as quoted in ABC News.
What Comes Next?
Although widely seen as a milestone, several key implementation details, especially those related to the PABS system, are still being negotiated. A separate annex will be finalised over the next 12 months. According to The Guardian, the agreement will officially come into force once at least 60 countries ratify it following the annex’s completion.
As the global community reflects on the lessons of COVID-19, the adoption of this agreement signals a unified move toward a more equitable and effective response to future pandemics.
