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6d ago

Slovakia Challenges WHO Pandemic Agreement as Member States Push for Adoption

As the World Health Assembly convenes in Geneva, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico calls for a vote opposing the treaty, citing sovereignty concerns.

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives for the European Political Community Summit at Skanderbeg Square in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj/File Photo
People wearing face protective masks watch the sunset from Griffith Observatory during a partial lockdown during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 7, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
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Overview

  • The WHO Pandemic Agreement, finalized in April 2025, seeks to improve global pandemic preparedness through enhanced coordination, surveillance, and equitable access to medical countermeasures.
  • WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged member states to adopt the treaty during the World Health Assembly in Geneva, calling it a critical step for global health security.
  • Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced his delegation will demand a procedural vote opposing the agreement, arguing it infringes on state sovereignty and human rights.
  • The treaty requires two-thirds approval from WHO member states in a committee vote before formal adoption by the assembly's plenary session on Tuesday.
  • The agreement includes provisions for a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system, with member states given until 2026 to finalize details and secure 60 ratifications for enforcement.