WHO Pandemic Agreement

Context

In response to the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have adopted a landmark WHO Pandemic Agreement at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. This legally binding resolution aims to strengthen global pandemic preparedness, ensure equitable access to medical resources, and prevent future health emergencies.

About the WHO Pandemic Agreement

Objective:
To prevent and respond effectively to future pandemics by strengthening international cooperation, ensuring equitable access to health tools, and creating a fairer global health security framework.
Legal Basis:
This is the second international legal agreement negotiated under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, the first being the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2003).
Key Features:
- Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) System:
  Pharmaceutical companies involved in this system will provide 20% of their real-time production (vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics) to WHO to ensure equitable and timely distribution during a pandemic.
- Equity in Access:
  It emphasis on public health need-based distribution, especially prioritizing developing countries.
- Implementation Mechanism:
  A dedicated Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) will draft and negotiate the detailed PABS framework. The final plan will be reviewed in the next World Health Assembly.
- Commitment to Multilateralism:
  It recognizes that safeguarding public health, science, and economies requires global cooperation and shared accountability.
Significance:
- A proactive and structured response framework to avoid repeat global disruptions as seen during COVID-19.
- Strengthens WHO's leadership in coordinating international health emergencies.
- Establishes a precedent for future pandemic preparedness agreements based on science, equity, and collaboration.

Major Initiatives of WHO

International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005: Legal framework for pandemic response.
COVAX (part of ACT Accelerator): Equitable vaccine access.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), 2003.
WHO Pandemic Agreement (2024): New treaty for global pandemic preparedness.