On May 20, 2025, member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted an important “pandemic treaty” in response to the inadequate global reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. This document aims to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to potential future pandemics, taking into account the significant losses caused by the coronavirus.
The treaty was approved during the WHO’s annual assembly in Geneva, where it had been discussed and developed over three years. It stipulates that countries sharing virus samples will gain access to tests, medicines, and vaccines. Specifically, 20% of such products will be allocated to the WHO to ensure that poorer countries have access to necessary resources during future pandemics.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described this agreement as a “historic step” and a symbol of international cooperation at a time when many countries prioritize their national interests over shared values.
However, as noted by the AP agency, questions arise about the effectiveness of the treaty, since the United States, which invested significant funds in developing COVID-19 vaccines, did not participate in the final stages of the agreement’s formation. Moreover, international law does not provide mechanisms to punish countries that may ignore this document.
The US, traditionally the largest donor to the UN in the health sector, remained on the sidelines of the process after the Trump administration announced the country’s withdrawal from the WHO in January and ceased funding the organization.
Recall that on May 19, at the World Health Assembly, WHO members voted for a potentially global treaty aimed at improving preparedness for future pandemics, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in the health sector.
