UN leaders urge action on pandemic treaty annex

World leaders renewed calls for sustained investment in pandemic preparedness at a United Nations meeting in New York, while urging countries to resolve negotiations on a pathogen-sharing annex to the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Agreement. The annex remains unfinished and is expected to be considered for adoption at the World Health Assembly in May 2027. The second UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response reviewed progress since the first such meeting in 2023. Participants pointed to the Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, and amendments to the International Health Regulations as steps taken since COVID-19. They also called for stronger health systems, local capacity and more equitable access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other health tools. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus urged countries to conclude negotiations on the agreement’s Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system, known as PABS. He warned that delays could hinder responses to future pandemics.