WHO Pandemic Treaty Aims to Prevent Future Health Crises
Nearly five years after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its 194 member countries are closing in on an international agreement aimed at ensuring the world is better prepared for the next public health crisis. Known informally as the “pandemic treaty,” this landmark accord is designed to correct the failures in cooperation, data sharing, and response readiness that plagued the global reaction to COVID-19.
On April 12, 2025, negotiators from WHO member states agreed on a draft version of the pandemic treaty, marking a major step toward a final agreement expected to be signed at the upcoming World Health Assembly in Geneva this May. The treaty outlines a series of global commitments to improve transparency, equity, and coordination in response to future pandemics, including earlier detection of outbreaks, faster response protocols, and equitable access to treatments and vaccines.
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Why a Pandemic Treaty?
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed glaring weaknesses in the global health architecture. National governments frequently acted in isolation, vaccine hoarding was rampant, and misinformation undermined public trust in science. Despite more than 7 million recorded deaths globally and countless economic and social disruptions, no binding international protocol existed to ensure countries shared timely data or resources.
According to the WHO, the new treaty seeks to “ensure equity, solidarity, transparency, and accountability” in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (who.int).
What Will the Treaty Do?
The proposed treaty includes several key provisions that directly address the issues seen during COVID-19:
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Early Reporting of Pathogens: Countries will be required to swiftly report outbreaks of unknown origin and new viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, with the goal of faster containment before global spread.
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Pathogen Access and Genetic Sequencing: Nations will be obligated to share samples and genetic sequence data of emerging viruses promptly with international databases.
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Equitable Access to Countermeasures: Similar to how vaccines were unequally distributed during COVID-19, the treaty includes a provision for wealthier nations to contribute a portion of pandemic tools—vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics—to a global pool managed by the WHO.
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Universal Health Coverage (UHC): The treaty encourages investment in strong health systems, including rapid testing infrastructure, to detect future pathogens quickly. Maintaining access to diagnostics like the ASSURE-100 Rapid COVID-19 Home Test will be a key priority in early detection.
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Countering Disinformation: Governments must invest in public trust and risk communication strategies to counteract health misinformation and vaccine skepticism.
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Legal and Political Commitment: Although not a binding treaty in the same way international trade agreements are, it carries moral and diplomatic weight, with national-level ratification expected in many countries.
Who Is Involved?
All 194 member states of the WHO have taken part in the negotiations, though consensus has not always been easy. Low- and middle-income countries pushed for stronger language around vaccine equity, while wealthier nations like the United States and European Union advocated for more flexible commitments. Notably, the United States has expressed support for the treaty, provided that it does not infringe on domestic sovereignty or constitutional protections.
The draft treaty will now go to the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva from May 27 to June 1, 2025, where it is expected to be debated and potentially adopted.
Challenges Ahead
Despite progress, the draft treaty faces hurdles. Critics have raised concerns about:
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Enforcement: Without punitive measures, some worry nations might disregard their obligations during the next crisis.
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Sovereignty: Some countries argue that binding global health decisions may infringe on national decision-making.
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Mistrust: The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic has left political scars, with some governments still reluctant to commit to global oversight.
Nonetheless, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the agreement as a “monumental milestone” in the effort to protect future generations.
Lessons from COVID-19
The pandemic taught the world a sobering lesson: no country is safe unless every country is prepared. Access to basic tools—vaccines, ventilators, and especially reliable rapid testing—can mean the difference between containment and catastrophe. Products like the ASSURE-100 Rapid COVID-19 Home Test remain essential components of public health response, not only for SARS-CoV-2 but also for emerging viral threats.
Rapid testing empowers individuals to act quickly and responsibly, which is exactly the kind of decentralization the pandemic treaty hopes to institutionalize worldwide.
The Road Ahead
With the draft agreement in hand, world leaders will now face the task of finalizing the treaty and implementing its provisions in national health systems. The pandemic treaty represents a shared understanding that future health crises are not a matter of “if,” but “when”—and that the next time, the world must be faster, fairer, and better coordinated.
If adopted and effectively implemented, the treaty could represent the most comprehensive international health reform since the founding of the WHO in 1948.
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Keywords: COVID-19, pandemic treaty, WHO, SARS-CoV-2, rapid testing, public health, ASSURE-100 Rapid COVID-19 Home Test, pandemic preparedness, global health agreement