WHO Pandemic Agreement: Key Highlights, Objectives & Implementation Timeline

21 May 2025

WHO Pandemic Agreement: Key Highlights, Objectives & Implementation Timeline

The 78th World Health Assembly adopted the first-ever WHO Pandemic Agreement to enhance global equity, preparedness, and collaboration in future pandemics.

WHO Pandemic Agreement

  • Background: The Agreement emerged in 2024 from three years of negotiations addressing global gaps and inequities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Legal Significance: It is the second international legal agreement under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, after the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2003).
  • Objective: Aims to strengthen global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, based on equity, solidarity, transparency, and scientific evidence.
  • Implementation Timeline:  The Agreement will come into force after:
    • 60 countries ratify it.
    • Key mechanisms (like PABS)  will be finalized by May 2026.
  • Respect for Sovereignty:  WHO cannot impose laws or actions (e.g., lockdowns, vaccine mandates, travel bans); states retain full sovereignty in public health decisions.

Key Components of the Agreement

  • Prevention and Surveillance:
    • Encourage national pandemic prevention plans.
    • Strengthen early detection of infectious diseases.
    • Focus on immunization, lab biosafety, AMR, and zoonotic disease control.
  • Sustainable Local Production: Promote equitable distribution and rapid production scale-up of vaccines and other health products.
    • Ensure fair access to these during pandemics.
  • Technology Transfer: Support tech and knowledge transfer to developing countries.
    • Use licensing, financing, and regulatory incentives.
    • WHO to facilitate regional/global technology hubs.
  • Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS):Rapid sharing of pathogen data with manufacturers.
    • Manufacturers to allocate 20% of real-time production to the countries which are part of the agreement.
      • 10% as donations.
      • 10% at affordable prices.
    • Applies to all companies, regardless of location.
    • Detailed framework to be finalized by May 2026.
  • Global Supply Chain and Logistics Network: A new WHO-coordinated network will:
    • Ensure timely and equitable distribution of health products.
    • Address barriers during emergencies.

Archive Calendar

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

by month

SRIJAN MAINS

Need help preparing for UPSC or State PSCs?

Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing

Aiming for UPSC?

Download Our App

      
Quick Revise Now !
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD SOON
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध
Quick Revise Now !
UDAAN PRELIMS WALLAH
Comprehensive coverage with a concise format
Integration of PYQ within the booklet
Designed as per recent trends of Prelims questions
हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

<div class="new-fform">






    </div>

    Subscribe our Newsletter
    Sign up now for our exclusive newsletter and be the first to know about our latest Initiatives, Quality Content, and much more.
    *Promise! We won't spam you.
    Yes! I want to Subscribe.