World Leaders Reaffirm Commitments to Global Pandemic Preparedness at UN General Assembly

Political leaders gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on September 25, 2026, for the second UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR), renewing commitments to strengthen global defenses against future health emergencies.

The meeting reviewed progress made since the inaugural 2023 session, assessing developments such as the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005), and the establishment of global centres for pathogen sharing, epidemic surveillance, and regional manufacturing of medical tools.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the necessity of sustained financing and action. According to the WHO, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more than 20 million excess deaths between 2020 and 2023 and caused over US$ 10 trillion in economic losses. Dr. Tedros noted that the political commitments reflect the lessons learned from that crisis, requiring investments in resilient health systems and equitable access to medical resources.

Participating countries highlighted the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, an annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The PABS system aims to establish a framework for the timely sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and the equitable distribution of resulting benefits, such as vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. Adoption of the annex is scheduled for the World Health Assembly in May 2027, which will enable Member States to begin the national ratification processes for the broader agreement.

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, speaking on behalf of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urged member states to accelerate negotiations to finalize the PABS system.

The meeting's draft Political Declaration emphasizes international cooperation, sustainable investment, and the "One Health" approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health considerations. The declaration is expected to be forwarded to the UN General Assembly for further consideration.

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