WHO member states have completed three years of negotiations to create the first-ever global agreement for joint action in the fight against pandemics.
The document sets out commitments to share data on pathogens, conduct collaborative scientific research, ensure equal access to vaccines and medicines, and train healthcare and other relevant personnel. It also emphasizes that WHO cannot impose decisions on countries or interfere in domestic policy—meaning that travel bans, mandatory vaccinations, or lockdowns will not be automatically introduced.
The special value of the agreement lies in the fact that countries retain legal rights to cooperate without losing their independence. It creates conditions for a more fair distribution of resources in the event of future outbreaks.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that fragmented actions were not effective, and that isolationism and a race for patents only worsened the crisis. Adoption of the document could take place as early as summer 2025 and would become a symbol of a new level of trust and maturity in the international community. This is not only about medicine—it is also about the world’s ability to negotiate and act together.
