World leaders renew pandemic preparedness pledges at UN meeting
Leaders at a United Nations high-level meeting in New York on 25 September renewed commitments to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, the World Health Organization reported.
The second such General Assembly meeting followed the first in 2023. WHO said delegates emphasised health system resilience, investment and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatment. They also noted progress through the WHO Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations.
A key piece of the agreement remains under negotiation: an annex on pathogen access and benefit sharing. WHO said adoption at a World Health Assembly in May 2027 would be needed before countries could begin national consideration of ratification. The meeting’s political declaration was expected to go to the General Assembly for further consideration.
The New York meeting was a political commitment and review, not a claim that every country has completed the necessary preparations. The WHO said work across government, communities and health sectors remains necessary between emergencies.
