The World Health Organization (WHO) is approaching the final stages of negotiation for its landmark Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Accord. The draft treaty, which has been under intense negotiation by member states, aims to establish a unified, legally binding framework for addressing future pandemics, ensuring equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and essential medical supplies worldwide.
The agreement focuses on key areas: shared pathogen access, guaranteeing that countries share samples of new viruses quickly; supply chain transparency, requiring manufacturers to disclose production data; and a commitment to 20% global equitable access to pandemic-related products, primarily through donation or tiered pricing for developing nations.
The final agreement is expected to be adopted at the upcoming World Health Assembly session in May 2025. Countries in South Asia and Africa, which faced significant hurdles in obtaining timely vaccines during the last pandemic, have strongly advocated for the equity provisions.
While support is high, some nations are still debating clauses on intellectual property waivers during health emergencies. The accord is seen by the WHO as the most crucial global health policy step since its founding, shifting the focus from reaction to proactive global coordination against biological threats.