World Health Organization (WHO) member states have finalised a legally binding World Pandemic Treaty proposal to strengthen global readiness for future pandemics. The proposal was finalised after three years of negotiations and will be presented at the 78th World Health Assembly on May 19, 2025.
Background
- Aim: To prevent the chaotic global response witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Type: Second-ever legally binding international agreement by WHO (after the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, 2003).
- Drafted by: Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), set up in December 2021 under the WHO Constitution.
Key Provisions of Pandemic Treaty Proposal
| Provision Area | Details |
| Pathogen Access & Benefit Sharing (PABS) | Enables faster data and sample exchange between countries and pharmaceutical firms to speed up vaccine and treatment development. |
| Rapid Disease Surveillance | Promotes real-time data sharing on emerging diseases. |
| Supply Chain Transparency | WHO will gain oversight of global PPE and medical supply chains (first time ever). |
| Technology & Knowledge Transfer | Encourages sharing of know-how and technologies for pandemic response tools. |
| One Health Approach | Integrates human, animal, and environmental health to prevent outbreaks. |
| Geographically Diverse R&D | Builds distributed research capacities globally. |
| Trained Health Workforce | Calls for a skilled, multidisciplinary pandemic workforce worldwide. |
| Financial Mechanism | Establishes a coordinated financial framework for emergency preparedness. |
| Global Supply Logistics | Proposes a resilient global logistics network for medical emergencies. |
Sovereignty Clause:
The treaty respects national sovereignty. Nothing in the agreement gives WHO authority to direct or prescribe domestic laws.
WHO cannot mandate:
- Lockdowns
- Vaccination requirements
- Travel bans
- National policy changes
Current Global Pandemic Frameworks
International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005:
- Legally binding WHO instrument
- Obligates countries to detect, report, and respond to Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC)
- Example: COVID-19 declared a PHEIC in Jan 2020
- Limitation: No enforcement powers; countries can delay or ignore reporting
Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN)
- Network of 250+ institutions coordinated by WHO
- Provides rapid expert deployment during pandemics
- Used for outbreaks like Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19
Significance:
- The World Pandemic Treaty is a historic milestone in global health diplomacy.
- It aims to build a unified, proactive, and equitable global response framework for future pandemics.
- Enhances global solidarity, transparency, and preparedness capacity, especially in low- and middle-income countries.