WHO and Brazil urge world leaders to finalise Pandemic Agreement to prevent future global health crises
Penned by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the message underscored a shared global responsibility to protect humanity
Penned by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the message underscored a shared global responsibility to protect humanity from repeating such devastation seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed up to 20 million lives and wiped out $13 trillion in global economic output. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, hospitals were overwhelmed, families lost loved ones in isolation and frontline healthcare workers endured unprecedented strain. This collective trauma birthed a promise among nations: to never again face a pandemic unprepared, they wrote. ‘An act of hope’ in a divided world Over a year ago, countries made significant strides by adopting the WHO Pandemic Agreement, committing to cooperate more effectively in preventing, preparing for and responding to pandemics. “In a divided world, that outcome was not to be taken for granted,” the letter stated. “It was an act of hope and an act of faith in one another. We write to you now because that hope is not yet fulfilled and because it lies within your hands to help fulfil it.” Standing in the way is the pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) annex, a vital element of the agreement, which remains incomplete, President Lula and Tedros wrote.
This framework is essential for enabling countries to quickly identify and share genetic information of dangerous pathogens so that scientists can develop lifesaving tests, treatments and vaccines. Without the annex, the Pandemic Agreement cannot formally come into force, leaving the promise unfulfilled, the joint message stated. Complex challenges remain The challenges in finalising the PABS annex are complex, particularly around defining how the benefits of shared pathogens are equitably distributed and how governance ensures fairness. These were the very questions left unresolved previously, contributing to gaps in protection during COVID-19. Negotiators are scheduled to meet again from 6 to 17 July to close these gaps. Three critical requests The appeal highlights three critical requests for global leaders Political will at the highest level: Leaders must prioritise finalising the annex and empower negotiators to seek bold consensus. The agreement does not compromise national sovereignty nor does it grant WHO authority to impose measures like lockdowns or vaccination mandates. Those decisions remain firmly with individual nations. Leaders must prioritise finalising the annex and empower negotiators to seek bold consensus.
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