Overview

• WHO member states have reached an 'in principle' agreement on a pandemic pact designed to enhance global preparedness and equitable access to health technologies.
• The draft agreement, finalized after a nearly 24-hour negotiation session, will undergo final approval at the World Health Assembly in Geneva at the end of May 2025.
• Contentious language on technology transfer remains unresolved, with developing nations advocating for mandatory provisions and developed nations favoring voluntary terms.
• The agreement reflects compromises made during three years of negotiations, with experts noting it may fall short of the ambitious goals initially proposed.
• WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the accord as a historic step toward protecting future generations from global health crises.