WHO Nears Agreement on Pandemic Preparedness Treaty
- Dogeon Lim
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
April 15 2025
By Dogeon Lim
The World Health Organization (WHO) is nearing an agreement on a pandemic preparedness treaty, a legally binding international agreement aimed at improvising the world’s action to prevent and prepare for future pandemics. The final discussions started at WHO headquarters in Switzerland, with WHO members close to a deal on a broad agreement on Saturday (Apr 12).
It has been three years since negotiations started on an international treaty, intended to strengthen the world’s defenses against new pathogens following the COVID-19 that caused millions of casualties in around 2020-2022. The draft calls for countries to make plans to help prevent pandemics and build capacity to produce or develop vaccines and health products, especially for the benefits of developing countries.
Also, they attempt to establish a new global cooperation system to share information on pathogens with pandemic’s potential.
Negotiations are in the final stages and it is possible that the agreement will be reached soon.
Their big meeting in May will be discussed and could approve the plan. On the other side, the United States, which was slow to join the early discussions, decided to leave the discussions this year after new President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February withdrawing from the WHO and excluding participation in the discussions.
This treaty is important because it can help the world deal more quickly and fairly to future health crises, saving lives and preventing chaos. If it works, it could lead to stronger global health security. So people all over the world are watching to see if countries reach a deal on this important treaty.
