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WHO Adopts Landmark Pandemic Agreement After Three Years of Negotiations

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday formally adopted a historic Pandemic Agreement aimed at improving global readiness and response to future pandemics, following the devastating COVID-19 outbreak that claimed thousands of lives between 2020 and 2022.

After more than three years of intense negotiations, the agreement was approved by consensus during the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. Member states erupted into applause following the adoption, which marked only the second international legal accord negotiated under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution.

“The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration and commitment of our Member States,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action.”

The accord outlines enhanced international coordination, faster data-sharing on emerging pathogens, improved surveillance systems, and equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics during future pandemics. The central pillar of the agreement–the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system–will be finalized by May 2026 and will require 60 national ratifications before entering into force.

The text emphasizes that public health decisions must be grounded in science while respecting national sovereignty. It explicitly states the WHO will not have authority to mandate domestic policies such as lockdowns, travel restrictions, or vaccination programs.

Disparities in vaccine access during the COVID-19 pandemic were a key motivator for the agreement. Angolan President Joao Lourenco, speaking on behalf of the African Union, noted, “Countries in Africa are rarely the starting point of these crises but always are on the front line.”

Not all reactions were favorable. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized the agreement, calling the WHO “bloated” and unduly influenced by China and the pharmaceutical industry. “We’ve already been in contact with like-minded countries and we encourage others to consider joining us,” he said.

“The WHO has failed us,” Kennedy said. “It mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic, suppressed early treatment options, and blindly promoted experimental vaccines without transparency. Now it wants a bigger role in deciding how we respond next time? That’s not reform — it’s consolidation of control.”

Kennedy also condemned the PABS system as a “pipeline for profiteering,” arguing it creates an illusion of equity while guaranteeing market access for pharmaceutical giants. “This isn’t about global health — it’s about global control,” he added. “We are urging other sovereign nations to reconsider their support for this agreement.”

Critics from civil liberties organizations have also voiced concerns that the agreement could open the door to overreach during emergencies, citing vague language that could be interpreted to justify sweeping health mandates or restrictions in the future. Some argued that while the accord affirms national sovereignty, the pressure to conform to international standards during crises could lead to backdoor compliance.

Additionally, several developing countries voiced frustration that the agreement fell short of mandating technology transfers and instead only encouraged them on “mutually agreed terms.” Activists warn this could leave low-income nations once again dependent on the goodwill of wealthier states in the next crisis.

Still, the agreement was widely praised by other leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron called it “a victory for the future,” while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as “a shared commitment to fight future pandemics.”

With implementation now underway, the WHO and its member states will begin developing the systems and structures–like the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network and Coordinating Financial Mechanism–to ensure the world is not caught off guard again.