The WHO Pandemic Agreement, formally adopted by consensus at the 78th World Health Assembly, marks a historic milestone after more than three years of negotiations prompted by the global shortcomings exposed during the COVID-19 response. This landmark agreement enhances global cooperation to ensure a more equitable and effective response to future pandemics, emphasizing timely and fair access to vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Article 5 discusses the One Health approach, promoting coordinated efforts across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
It proposes concrete actions to prevent pandemics, including identifying and addressing drivers of disease emergence at the human-animal-environment interface, integrating relevant interventions into national pandemic plans, developing OH-based strategies and policies, engaging communities, and establishing joint training programs for professionals working across these sectors.
