The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for sustained investment and action to prepare for future pandemic threats. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, made the appeal on Friday at the second United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York. The meeting brought together political leaders who renewed their commitment to making the world safer from future pandemics.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more than 20 million excess deaths between 2020 and 2023 and had a significant economic impact, wiping more than $10 trillion from the global economy. According to Dr Tedros, the pandemic exposed and exacerbated the fault lines of global health security, teaching the world many painful lessons. He emphasized the need for concrete, measurable, and urgent action to build and strengthen local and national capacities.
The WHO said countries recognised progress made over the past three years to strengthen global systems for detecting, preparing for, and responding to pandemic threats. This progress includes the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005). Additionally, global centres dedicated to epidemic and pandemic surveillance, sharing of pathogens, and local manufacturing of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics have been established.
Despite this progress, countries stressed the need to finalise negotiations on an annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement establishing the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system. The system aims to facilitate the timely sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and benefits arising from their use. This will enable research and development, as well as timely and equitable access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other health products.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed urged member states to accelerate the negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system. She emphasised that the system is critical to unlocking the full potential of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and that there is no time to waste. The adoption of the annex at the next World Health Assembly in May 2027 is necessary for member states to begin national consideration to ratify the Pandemic Agreement.
The President of the 81st UN General Assembly, Dr Khalilur Rahman, highlighted the importance of international cooperation in protecting the world from future pandemics. He called for stronger health systems, efforts to close persistent financing gaps, and equitable and timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and other essential medical supplies. The President of the UN Economic and Social Council, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, also emphasised the need for integrated and adequately financed action.
The declaration adopted at the meeting underscored the importance of global solidarity and international cooperation in protecting communities and countries from cross-border health threats. It highlighted a One Health approach, addressing the connections between human, animal, and environmental health. The leaders stressed that pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response must remain a sustained political priority, including during periods between health crises.
Key points
- The World Health Organisation has called for sustained investment and action to prepare for future pandemic threats.
- The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more than 20 million excess deaths between 2020 and 2023 and had a significant economic impact.
- Countries need to finalise negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system to facilitate the sharing of pathogens and benefits arising from their use.
