We congratulate WHO Member States for finalizing the text of the historic pandemic agreement, for putting cooperation over nationalism and for standing together against pandemic threats. This agreement represents a commitment to equity and coordinated action to prepare, prevent, and respond to future pandemics.
The pandemic agreement gives countries the possibility of working together on research and development (R&D), supply chains, the health workforce, and Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS). It is also the first global health agreement grounded in One Health that explicitly acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. These are historic achievements, and steps in the right direction to ensure the world is better prepared to respond to future threats.
We celebrate this achievement and stand ready to support WHO and Member States through next steps including adoption, ratification, and implementation. The pandemic agreement is a beacon of unified multilateral cooperation at a critical time, and we salute the Member States for their tenacity and commitment in getting to this point.
Signed by:
Helen Clark, Co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Pandemic Action Network
Panel for a Global Public Health Convention
Spark Street Advisors