The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has warned that it is “now or never” to finalize a landmark global agreement on pandemic preparedness, following the United States’ withdrawal from negotiations.
Speaking at the opening of the 13th round of talks in Geneva on Monday, Tedros stressed that no country could shield itself from future pandemics alone. His remarks came just days after the administration of US President Donald Trump formally notified the WHO that it was pulling out of negotiations on the agreement.
“We are at a crucial point as you move to finalize the pandemic agreement in time for the World Health Assembly in May,” Tedros told WHO member states. “It really is a case of now or never. But I am confident that you will choose ‘now’ because you know what is at stake.”
He urged nations to remember the devastating toll of COVID-19, which claimed an estimated 20 million lives globally and continues to cause deaths.
US Withdrawal Raises Concerns
The push for a global pandemic agreement began in December 2021 in response to the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on health systems and economies worldwide. However, President Trump, who returned to office on January 20, signed an executive order initiating the United States’ withdrawal from the WHO and ceasing its participation in the pandemic accord negotiations.
Tedros expressed deep regret over Washington’s decision. “The next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. There are reminders all around us—Ebola, Marburg, measles, mpox, influenza, and the threat of the next Disease X,” he said. “No country can protect itself by itself. Bilateral agreements will only get you so far.”
Urgency to Finalize the Agreement
With only one more week-long session planned before the WHO’s annual assembly in May, negotiators face mounting pressure to resolve key disputes, particularly regarding access to pandemic-related pathogens and the equitable distribution of vaccines, tests, and treatments.
Non-governmental organizations monitoring the process have urged member states to press forward despite geopolitical tensions. The Pandemic Action Network emphasized that countries “must not walk away from this vital mission.” Meanwhile, health sector consultancy Spark Street Advisors warned that the global multilateral system was “under siege” and called the pandemic agreement a crucial step in preventing further setbacks.
Co-chair of the negotiations, Precious Matsoso, remained hopeful that revised wording in the draft text could help secure a breakthrough. “Let’s make sure that the three years we’ve spent do not end in regret—that we did not waste three years of our time,” she said.
With time running out, the success or failure of the agreement will be a defining moment for global health cooperation in the post-pandemic era.
