Member States approve WHO Pandemic Agreement in World Health Assembly Committee, paving way for its formal adoption – PAHO/WHO

Geneva, Switzerland, May 19, 2025 (WHO) – The Member States of the World Health Organization, which meet today in the Committee A of the World Health Assembly, approved a resolution That requires the adoption of a historical global compact so that the world is safer of future pandemics. He Pandemia agreement of whom The Assembly will be considered the final adoption on Tuesday during the plenary session.

Monday’s approval of the Pandemic Agreement resolution follows a process of more than three years, launched by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, to negotiate the first world agreement to address the gaps and inequities to prevent, prepare and respond to pandemics. This Cuenca Agreement was adopted under article 19 of the OMS Constitution. Its objective is to promote the stronger collaboration and cooperation between countries, international organizations such as WHO, civil society, private sector and other interested parties to prevent pandemics from occurring first and responding better in case of a future pandemic crisis.

«Governments around the world are doing their countries, and our interconnected, more equitable, healthier and safer global community for the threats raised by pathogens and viruses of the pandemic potential,» said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, general director of the World Health Organization. «I congratulate the member states of who resolved to join after COVID-19 to better protect the world from future pandemics. His work to develop this global agreement will ensure that countries work better, faster and faster and more equitably together to prevent and respond to the next pandemic threat.»

The pandemic agreement and the resolution requesting its adoption will be assumed by the full plenary of the World Health Assembly on Tuesday, May 20. Immediately afterwards, there will be a high -level segment with statements of chiefs of states of multiple countries.

“The Who Pandemic Agreement is a Demonstration of the Shared Desire by All People To Be Better Prevent to Prevent and Respond to The Next Pandemic, With A Commitment To The Principles of respect for Human Dignity, Equity, Solidarity and Sovereignty, and Basing Public Health Decions to Control Pandemics on The Best Available Science and Evidence, ”Said the Honorable Dr Esperance Luvindao, Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia, and Chair of the Committee to a meeting that adopted today’s resolution. «The costs that Covid inflicted on lives, livelihoods and economies were great and many, and we, as sovereign states, have resolved to unite hands, like a world together, so that we can protect our children, elders, first -line health workers and all others of the next pandemic. It is our duty and responsibility for humanity.»

The resolution establishes several steps to take the world forward and prepare for the implementation of the pandemic agreement. It includes the launch of a process to write and negotiate an annex to the agreement that would establish a pathogen access system and share benefits (PAB) through an intergovernmental work group (IGWG). The result of this process will be considered in the World Health Assembly next year. Once the Assembly adopts the PABS Annex, the Pandemia Agreement will be open for the signature and consideration of the ratification, even by national legislative bodies. After 60 ratifications, the agreement will enter into force.

In addition, the Member States also ordered the IGG to initiate the steps to allow the configuration of the Financial Mechanism for Coordination for Pandemic Prevention, Preparation and Response, and the Global Supply Chain Net International Health.

According to the agreement, pharmaceutical manufacturers who participate in the PABS system will play a key role in equitable and timely access to health -related health products by making available to the WHO «fast access to 20% of its real -time production of safe, quality and effective, therapeutic and diagnostic vaccines for the pathogen that causes the pandemic emergency.» The distribution of these products to the countries will be carried out on the basis of risk and the need for public health, with special attention to the needs of developing countries already supported through the GSCL.

The pandemic agreement is aligned with international health regulations, amendments to which they were adopted by governments in the World Health Assembly last year to strengthen international rules to detect, prevent and better respond to outbreaks.

Dr. Tedros thanked the Office of the Intergovernmental Negotiation Corps (INB) that coordinated and facilitated the process to write and negotiate the pandemic agreement. WHO general director also praised the tireless work and excellence of the WHO Secretariat team that supported the office and the Member States, led by Dr. Michael Ryan and Dr. Jauad Mahjour.

«An immensely talented, experienced and driven team of WHO gathered to support the vision of governments to develop this historical pandemic agreement,» said Dr. Tedros. «This group of individuals, who represent so many countries and regions of the world, deserve enormous credit and thanks from the international community for what they have done to help the world be safer for future generations.»

The INB was established in December 2021, in a special session of the World Health Assembly. WHO member states had the task of developing a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the PENS Constitution to strengthen the pandemic preparation, prevention and response. The members of the INB office that guided the process were co-chants of Mrs. Matsoso (South Africa) and the Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprau (France), and the ambassador of the Vice Presidents Tovar da Silva Nunes (Brazil), the Ambassador AMR Ramadan (Egypt), Viroj TangartoenSathien (Thailand); and Mrs. Fleur Davies (Australia). The previous members included the former co -president, Mr. Roland Drieper (Netherlands) and former Vice President Hinsor Kozo (Japan) ambassador, Mr. Kazuho Taguchi (Japan) and Mr. Ahmed Soliman (Egypt).