The World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), has adopted a groundbreaking global pandemic agreement aimed at transforming the world’s approach to pandemic preparedness and response.
Adopted on Tuesday, the agreement proposes establishing new platforms and mechanisms to overhaul existing systems for pandemic surveillance, prevention, and response. It seeks to promote research and equitable sharing of pandemic-related resources, adjust the production and distribution of essential products, and enhance the global public health governance system, particularly in addressing fairness challenges in international health development.
On Monday, WHO member states approved a resolution calling for the adoption of the pandemic agreement. According to a press release on the WHO website, the resolution outlines steps to advance global preparedness and pave the way for the agreement’s implementation. This includes the launch of a process to draft and negotiate an annex to the agreement that would establish a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system (PABS) through an Intergovernmental Working Group. The result of this process will be considered at next year’s WHA.
Once the assembly adopts the PABS annex, the pandemic agreement will be open for signature and consideration of ratification by national legislative bodies.
Following the adoption, the Chinese delegation stated that China has been actively engaged in the negotiation process. Guided by the vision of building a global community of health for all, the Chinese mainland has upheld true multilateralism, advocated for greater solidarity and cooperation among countries, and supported the WHO in its central coordinating role.
The delegation noted that China has worked with all parties to improve the global health governance system and strengthen global capacity for prevention, preparedness, and response. On technical issues such as pandemic prevention and surveillance, China maintained a science-based approach, offered constructive proposals, and actively contributed to the drafting process, playing an important role in promoting consensus among member states.
In addition, China, along with countries including Brazil, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, actively responded to the legitimate concerns of developing countries regarding equitable access to health products under the framework of the Group for Equity. These efforts demonstrated China’s image as a responsible major country.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the assembly, “The WHO pandemic agreement will rank among the most significant achievements in the history of this organization and of global health,” underscoring that it places humanity in a stronger position than ever before to prepare for and respond to pandemics.
In November 2021, a special session of the WHA established an intergovernmental negotiating body tasked with drafting a pandemic agreement under the WHO framework to enhance global capacities for pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response. On April 16 this year, the WHO announced that, following more than three years of intensive negotiations, member states had reached a consensus on the draft text of the agreement, which was then submitted for consideration at the 78th session.
