A Milestone for Global Health Equity & Security: Reaching Consensus on a Draft Pandemic Agreement
A Historic Step Forward for Global Health Equity and Security
After three years of intense negotiation, WHO Member States have finalized a draft Pandemic Agreement — a generational milestone for health equity, security, and multilateral cooperation. In our op-ed, we highlight the major pillars of the agreement, including stronger health systems, protection for healthcare workers, technology sharing, and the creation of a new Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS). Crucially, this agreement balances respect for national sovereignty with the urgent need for collective action.
This moment is a powerful reminder: multilateralism can work — and it’s critical to building a safer, fairer, and healthier future for all.
✨ Sneak peek excerpt:
"The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the devastating consequences of fragmented responses and unequal access to lifesaving tools. That is precisely why WHO Member States set out to build a legal framework prioritizing equity, solidarity, and preparedness for the next pandemic. The resulting agreement is a testament to what is possible when the world comes together in shared purpose."
🔗 Read the full op-ed here: A Milestone for Global Health Equity & Security: Reaching Consensus on a Draft Pandemic Agreement
Meet our Co-Author:
Dr. Alexandra L. Phelan, SJD, LLM, LLB, is a Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A globally recognized expert in global health law, Dr. Phelan advises international organizations and governments on pandemic preparedness and planetary health challenges, including biodiversity loss and climate change. She has served on several advisory bodies for the World Health Organization and the U.S. National Academies. Dr. Phelan earned her Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) from Georgetown University, and her advocacy during the Ebola outbreak earned her recognition as a Woman of Influence and appointment as an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society.