A joint call from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes a global responsibility to prevent a repeat of the devastation witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed over 20 million lives and resulted in a $13 trillion global economic loss.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 overwhelmed hospitals, separated families, and placed immense pressure on healthcare workers. This collective trauma spurred a commitment among nations: to never again face a pandemic unprepared.
‘An Act of Hope’ in a Divided World
More than a year ago, nations took significant steps by adopting the WHO Pandemic Accord, pledging to collaborate more effectively on preventing, preparing for, and responding to pandemics.
“This outcome was not to be taken lightly in a divided world. It was an act of hope and a demonstration of faith in one another. We are now writing to you because hope has not yet been fully realized, and it is in your hands to help make it so,” the call stated.
President Lula and Dr. Tedros highlighted the pending completion of the pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) annex, a vital component of the accord, which remains unfinished.
This framework allows countries to rapidly identify and share genetic information of dangerous pathogens, enabling scientists to develop life-saving tests, treatments, and vaccines.
Without the annex, the Pandemic Accord cannot officially come into force, and its promise remains unfulfilled.
Complex Challenges Persist
The challenges in finalizing the PABS annex are complex, particularly concerning the equitable distribution of benefits derived from shared pathogens and how governance will ensure fairness.
These previously unresolved questions contributed to protection gaps during COVID-19.
Negotiators are set to reconvene from July 6-17 to bridge these gaps.
Three Critical Demands
The call outlines three critical demands for global leaders:
- Highest Political Will: Leaders must prioritize the finalization of the annex and empower negotiators to reach a bold consensus. The agreement does not compromise national sovereignty or grant the WHO authority to impose measures like quarantines or vaccine mandates; these decisions remain solely with individual nations.
- Spirit of Equity: The PABS system is built on fairness. Those who rapidly share pathogens must have confidence that their populations will also receive equitable access to resulting vaccines and treatments. This approach recognizes pandemic prevention not as charity, but as a robust strategy that reduces costs and lives lost by controlling outbreaks early. Fair access must be guaranteed through clear and stable rules that replace the current ad hoc, crisis-driven process.
- Sense of Urgency: Scientists estimate a roughly 25% chance of another pandemic within the next decade. While changing environmental and social factors create new hotspots for disease emergence globally, advances in biotechnology increase the risk of accidental or intentional releases. The call demands July 17 be treated as a firm deadline for a finalized agreement to demonstrate global commitment and prevent dangerous delays.
The Next Critical Chapter
Current outbreaks underscore ongoing risks in many countries, such as Ebola, for which an approved vaccine is not yet available.
The call noted that compared to the overwhelming human and economic cost of COVID-19, investing in early detection and response systems like the PABS framework is modest and necessary.
Historically, the world has united to save countless lives by eradicating smallpox, nearly eliminating polio, and combating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
“Finishing this accord is not a break from that legacy. It is its natural next chapter, and it is within reach,” the call concluded.
