GENEVA – The World Health Assembly has approved a landmark agreement aimed at strengthening global preparedness and response to future pandemics, marking the culmination of three years of negotiations.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the accord as a major step forward for public health, science, and international cooperation.

“This is a win for global solidarity,” he said, noting that the agreement will better equip the world to face future pandemic threats.

Adopted during the 78th session of the World Health Assembly, the resolution seeks to address the gaps exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in millions of deaths and widespread economic disruption. The accord received broad support, with 124 member states voting in favor, none opposing, and five abstaining.

Key provisions of the agreement include stronger global coordination for early detection, prevention, and rapid response to emerging health threats. It also guarantees equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments — an issue that became a major point of contention during the Covid-19 crisis, when high-income countries secured the majority of supplies.

Under the agreement, pharmaceutical companies involved in the WHO mechanism must allocate 20 percent of their real-time production during a pandemic — 10 percent as donations and the remaining 10 percent at affordable, accessible prices.

The WHO emphasized that this new framework is designed to prevent the inequities of the past and ensure a more unified, effective global response in future health emergencies. PNA/WAM