In a significant advancement for global health governance, members of the World Health Organization (WHO) have reached an agreement on a legally binding treaty aimed at improving responses to future pandemics. This landmark agreement was finalized after three years of extensive negotiations among member states and is expected to minimize the chaos and competition for resources that characterized the COVID-19 crisis.
Key Features of the New Treaty
The new treaty incorporates several critical elements to ensure a more coordinated and effective response to pandemics. Central to the agreement is the commitment to rapid data sharing regarding emerging diseases. This transparency is essential for scientists and pharmaceutical companies to expedite the development of treatments and vaccines.
For the first time, the WHO will gain oversight of global supply chains concerning critical medical supplies, including masks, medical gowns, and personal protective equipment (PPE). This oversight aims to ensure that resources are allocated efficiently and equitably during health emergencies.
Reactions and Next Steps
WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the agreement as “a significant milestone in our shared journey towards a safer world.”
Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized that the consensus among member states showcases the vitality of multilateralism, stating that it proves “in our divided world, nations can still work together to find common ground, and a shared response to shared threats.”
This treaty represents only the second instance in WHO’s 75-year history where an international agreement of this nature has been achieved, the first being a treaty on tobacco control in 2003. However, the agreement still awaits formal adoption, which is expected during the upcoming World Health Assembly next month.
It is notable that U.S. negotiators did not participate in the final discussions, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of the nation’s withdrawal from the WHO, a decision that will take effect in 2026. Consequently, the United States will not be bound by this new pact.
Under the terms of the treaty, participating countries are required to ensure the global availability of pandemic-related medications in future outbreaks. Manufacturers will need to allocate at least 20% of their production of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to the WHO, with a minimum of 10% designated for donation and the remainder offered at affordable prices.
Furthermore, nations have agreed to facilitate the transfer of health technologies to lower-income countries, contingent upon mutual agreement. This provision aims to bolster local production capabilities for vaccines and medicines during health crises. However, this clause has sparked considerable debate, particularly among developing nations that expressed frustration over the hoarding of vaccines by wealthier countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside concerns from countries with significant pharmaceutical industries regarding the impact of mandatory transfers on research and development.
At the heart of the treaty lies the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), designed to expedite data exchanges among pharmaceutical companies. This system is intended to facilitate quicker drug development responses in the event of future health emergencies.