The Member States of WHO have agreed a new Public Health Treaty, the Pandemic Agreement. It will now go forward for final adoption at the World Health Assembly in May.
This Agreement is a breakthrough in global collaboration—helping countries better prevent, detect, and respond to future pandemics. There’s still work to do on surveillance for both humans and animals, and on government preparedness, which will require real investment. Crucially, the Agreement makes progress on equity. Fairer access is not only morally right—it’s essential to stopping diseases spread. The Agreement isn’t perfect, but it gives us a strong foundation to build on and adapt for the future.