World Health Organisation pandemic treaty signed by 120 nations after five years of negotiations
A landmark international pandemic preparedness treaty was adopted at a special WHO assembly session, establishing binding obligations for early warning sharing, equitable vaccine distribution, and a global pandemic fund — though the United States declined to sign.
World — March 21, 2026
One hundred and twenty countries signed a landmark pandemic preparedness and response treaty at a special session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on March 20, 2026, concluding more than five years of negotiations that had repeatedly stalled over questions of pathogen sharing, intellectual property, and equitable access to medical countermeasures.
The treaty establishes binding obligations for member states to report potential pandemic threats to the WHO within 24 hours of detection, share pathogen samples and genomic data through the organisation's coordinating mechanism, and contribute to a newly established Global Pandemic Fund capitalised at $12 billion over five years.
Perhaps the most contentious element — a mechanism requiring pharmaceutical companies to transfer technology and provide tiered pricing for vaccines and therapeutics in the event of a declared pandemic — was preserved in the final text after extensive negotiation, though with modifications that gave manufacturers greater flexibility in implementation timelines.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the signing 'a historic moment for global health security' and said the treaty represented 'the most important international public health agreement since the International Health Regulations were revised in 2005.'
The United States did not sign, with the Trump administration having withdrawn from the negotiating process in January 2025, citing sovereignty concerns and objections to the technology transfer provisions. Washington's absence was described by health diplomats as a significant gap that would weaken the treaty's effectiveness.
China signed the treaty but included a reservation on the 24-hour reporting obligation, agreeing to the principle but seeking to preserve flexibility in situations involving 'national security considerations' — a formulation that critics said could undermine the core early warning mechanism.
European nations led the push for a strong final text, with EU Health Commissioner designate Ursula von der Leyen describing the treaty as 'a testament to what international cooperation can achieve when the political will exists.'
