Over 190 countries have reached a landmark agreement aimed at improving global coordination and preparedness for future health crises. This deal, years in the making, was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and is set to be formally approved next month under the World Health Organization (WHO) framework.
The agreement emphasizes solidarity and cooperation to strengthen global defenses against new pathogens. It aims to develop research capabilities across diverse geographic locations. The COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed over seven million lives between 2020 and 2022, exposed stark disparities between developed and developing countries in access to medicines, vaccines, and healthcare professionals.
A Step Toward Global Health Security
The agreement’s key provisions include a less ambitious text than initially proposed. It focuses on reinforcing global defenses and promoting diverse research capabilities. While it doesn’t fully protect lower-income countries as hoped, it lays a foundation for solidarity.
The US withdrawal from WHO negotiations, announced by Donald Trump in February, raised concerns about the agreement’s viability. Nina Schwalbe, founder of Spark Street Advisors, emphasized that the organization would leverage multilateralism regardless of US support. However, the absence of US pharmaceutical companies could impact the agreement’s effectiveness, particularly regarding the 10% reserve and donation requirement for vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.
The formal vote on the treaty is scheduled for next month’s World Health Assembly in Geneva. This will be the WHO’s second major treaty since 1948, following the 2003 tobacco agreement. The outcome will likely shape the global response to future health crises.
A Historic Pact with Caveats
Despite growing optimism, the final details were only finalized late. Sources close to the negotiations warned of caution, citing the 2024 WHO General Assembly’s failure to reach consensus. Michael Ryan of WHO stressed the importance of details, and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the agreement as a generational commitment to global health security and multilateralism.
Experts describe the pact as historic, though imperfect. It addresses some tensions between the Global North and South regarding technology transfer and pathogen access. The agreement sets a new platform for saving lives in future health crises, but its success hinges on concrete actions by countries.
The WHO has urged states to implement the agreement meaningfully. While it doesn’t meet all aspirations, it marks a significant step toward global health cooperation and preparedness.