A Historic Agreement Reached in Geneva: WHO Formalizes Draft Pandemic Treaty

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A historic agreement has been reached in Geneva: the World Health Organization (WHO) has formalized the draft of an international treaty for pandemic management. After years of negotiations, representatives of member states have found common ground on a document that, in its intentions, could mark a turning point in global health governance. Final approval is expected in May 2025.

A Legal Response to Past Failures

The Covid-19 crisis starkly exposed the weaknesses of health systems, the fragility of international coordination, and the inequity in the distribution of vaccines and medical resources. It also led to a rise in skepticism toward the organization itself.

The draft treaty was born out of the ambition to turn lessons learned into concrete obligations. Not just recommendations, but real multilateral legal tools to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response to pandemic threats.

Key Points of the Agreement

The agreement aims to enhance pandemic prevention, management, and response. Following the evident inequalities and shortcomings revealed during the global Covid-19 response, the treaty is guided by the principles of equity, solidarity, and transparency.

Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing

At the heart of the agreement is the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), a new platform that enables the rapid sharing of data on emerging pathogens with pharmaceutical companies. This will allow for the timely development of vaccines, tests, and therapies.

This was one of the most complex aspects of the negotiations, especially due to concerns raised by developing countries, which fear being excluded—as happened during the Covid-19 pandemic—from fair access to health products despite sharing data. Under the PABS system, countries commit to promptly providing information on pathogens, while manufacturers must allocate 20% of the health products developed to WHO: at least 10% as donations, and the rest at affordable prices. Manufacturers in non-WHO member countries may also voluntarily participate, though the practical terms of participation are still to be defined.

Equity, Transparency, and Scientific Cooperation

The agreement’s pillars include the creation of more resilient health systems, timely data and information sharing, and international scientific cooperation. It also promotes mutual trust among states, transparency, and support for low- and middle-income countries.

This shift toward a “cooperative paradigm” also strengthens so-called health diplomacy—the use of diplomatic tools for global health purposes. In an era marked by growing geopolitical divisions, the agreement also represents a political gesture of trust in multilateralism.

What Does It Mean for Member States?

From a legal standpoint, adoption of the treaty by the Assembly will trigger a complex implementation phase: signatory countries will need to align their national regulations with the obligations arising from the new agreement. This will involve legislative reforms, strengthening of health infrastructures, and likely new mechanisms for funding and monitoring.

This represents a significant test for international health law, a field traditionally fragmented and weak in enforcement. The treaty’s effectiveness will ultimately depend on the political will of states to comply and on WHO’s ability to ensure its implementation.

A Challenge That Can No Longer Be Postponed

“The next pandemic is not a question of if, but when,” reiterated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In an increasingly interconnected world, collective response capacity to health crises is now a structural necessity, no longer reliant on the goodwill of individual countries.

If adopted, the treaty will set a significant precedent—not only as a legal instrument but also as a political and cultural signal from a world that, after suffering, is now trying to prevent.