Overview and Background

On April 16, 2025, member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) reached a landmark agreement on a pandemic treaty aimed at improving global responses to future health crises, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The negotiations, which spanned over three years, concluded with a 32-page document that will be presented for ratification at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May 2025. This agreement seeks to prevent the disorganization and inequities experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Provisions and Significance

The treaty includes several critical components, including:

• Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System: This system aims to facilitate the rapid sharing of pathogen data and samples, ensuring that pharmaceutical companies can quickly develop treatments and vaccines.
• Technology Transfer: Member countries agreed to promote voluntary technology transfers to enhance local production of health products in developing nations, a response to accusations during COVID-19 that wealthy countries hoarded resources.
• Equitable Distribution: The agreement mandates that at least 20% of vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics produced during pandemics be allocated to the WHO for distribution to poorer countries.
• Commitment to Multilateralism: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that the consensus demonstrated the viability of international cooperation in addressing shared health threats.

"In reaching consensus on the Pandemic Agreement, nations have demonstrated that multilateralism is alive and well," said Tedros.

Despite the absence of the United States from the negotiations, which withdrew from the WHO under previous leadership, the agreement marks a significant achievement in global health governance. The treaty reflects a commitment to collective health security and aims to protect future generations from similar crises.

Next Steps

The finalized text will be submitted for approval at the World Health Assembly, where member states will have the opportunity to ratify the treaty. Implementation will require ongoing negotiations to detail how the provisions will be operationalized, particularly concerning equitable access and technology sharing.

Key Findings

• The treaty aims to prevent the mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Countries are required to share at least 20% of pandemic-related health products with the WHO.
• Technology transfer provisions aim to enhance local production capabilities in developing nations.
• The agreement is seen as a victory for global cooperation amid rising challenges to multilateralism.
• Implementation of the treaty will depend on member states' commitment to its provisions.