The race to build a pandemic-proof world

This need is increasingly greater amidst increasing threats to global stability and security due to the emergence of infectious diseases as well as climate-related crises and conflicts.

What has happened?

More than seven million lives have been lost to COVID-19, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).

This pandemic has not only claimed lives. It devastated economies, disrupted entire health systems, and exposed how unequal access rich and poor countries have to vaccines, tests, and treatments.

The global response to the pandemic was described by UN Secretary General António Guterres as “a story of human ingenuity and human failure” Vaccines were developed very quickly, but a lack of preparedness meant that the most vulnerable groups had the least access to health services and suffered the most.

Why it matters

Viruses, like COVID-19, do not respect national borders.

An outbreak detected in one country can quickly spread throughout the world, endangering people everywhere.

This makes surveillance, data sharing, research and development – ​​as well as access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments – an international priority.

This is also why human, animal and environmental health is now treated as one interconnected system. More 60 percent Many new infectious diseases are transferred to humans from animals, so strict monitoring of the human-animal-environment relationship is very important.

Equity gap

COVID-19 exposed stark disparities in who had access to vaccines, testing, and treatment first. Rich countries have much better production capacity than poor countries.

However, the issue of justice is broader than access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. This also includes fair access to skills, resources and funding.

Closing the gap is a core argument for treating prevention, preparedness and response as an international and not just a national issue.

Global pandemic agreement

The COVID-19 pandemic is a warning to the world.

Global collaboration is key to preventing and responding to future pandemics. As UN Secretary-General Guterres warned, “We must not repeat the mistakes of the past when the next pandemic strikes, as we know it will. That means we must work together.”

The international community has made progress.

The landmark WHO Pandemic AgreementThe first binding global agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, adopted in May 2025.

But, adoption is just the beginning.

Negotiators from various countries still have to agree on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) attachment to the agreement. It is a mechanism to share virus samples and, in return, guarantee countries in need can access the resulting vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.

By negotiation on attachments proceed on Friday, after being adopted by World Health Assemblythe treaty could be opened for national signature and ratification.

60 ratifications are required for it to become legally effective.

The agreement also establishes a global supply chain and logistics network to deliver medical supplies to countries during emergencies, and a new “coordination financial mechanism” to support strengthening and expanding pandemic prevention, preparedness and response capacities.

What needs to change?

To be better prepared for the next pandemic, the international community needs to focus on:

• Prevent outbreaks before they occur and prevent it from spreading
• Stronger preparednessensure capacity and resources are available, including for research and development
• A stronger response which ensures the continuity of essential health services.
• Availability surge and production capacity geographically dispersed with sustainable supply chains

Underlying all this is the need for this sustainable and predictable financing And legal architecture for international coordination and collaboration.

This week at the UN

The 193-member General Assembly held a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response on September 25, 2026.

The one-day meeting brought world leaders to UN Headquarters in New York to discuss global coordination of action, funding and equitable access to medical supplies.

A political declaration intended to lock in new commitments is expected.

What is next?

The timing of the next pandemic cannot be predicted, so preparation is critical.

The lesson from COVID-19 is that preparedness cannot begin when hospitals are already under stress.

This must happen in the midst of a pandemic, through stronger health systems, early warning, international cooperation and the basic principle that protecting people everywhere will help protect people everywhere.