An intergovernmental negotiating body established in December 2021, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, has now finalised its proposal for the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which is expected to be adopted in May.

It proposes the establishment of a pathogen access and benefit sharing system to help speed up research and vaccine development, and a global supply chain and logistics network to help avoid a repeat of the global scramble for personal protective equipment (PPE).

It also affirms national sovereignty in public health decisions, stating explicitly that nothing in the agreement gives WHO the authority to mandate health measures such as lockdowns, vaccination campaigns, or border closures.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said yesterday: “The nations of the world made history in Geneva today.

“In reaching consensus on the Pandemic Agreement, not only did they put in place a generational accord to make the world safer, they have also demonstrated that multilateralism is alive and well, and that in our divided world, nations can still work together to find common ground, and a shared response to shared threats.

“I thank WHO’s member states, and their negotiating teams, for their foresight, commitment and tireless work. We look forward to the World Health Assembly’s consideration of the agreement and — we hope — its adoption.”

Ireland’s health minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said: “Ireland, together with the other WHO member states, has today taken a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from future pandemics by forging a draft agreement for consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May.

“I want to pay tribute to all involved in negotiating this agreement. It illustrates the power of working together towards shared goals and demonstrates global commitment to protect us all from future pandemics.”

Professor Mary Horgan, Ireland’s interim chief medical officer, said: “This agreement represents very positive progress in strengthening global pandemic prevention and preparedness and ensures that the world will be equitably united to respond swiftly to any future pandemics.”

Olivér Várhelyi, the EU commissioner for health and animal welfare, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic caused enormous suffering for our societies and economies and tested public health systems to the limit.

“Our collective and global response showed that decisive action, enhanced collaboration and international solidarity are the way forward.

“Today’s announcement is a major step towards stronger international cooperation.

“When adopted, this agreement can make a significant contribution to strengthening our capacities for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and developing new medical countermeasures whenever necessary, including through a constructive role of the EU, in full respect of the health policy responsibilities and competences of individual EU member states.”

The final decision on whether to adopt the treaty will be taken at the upcoming World Health Assembly on 19 May 2025.

The US is unlikely to become a party to the treaty as the Donald Trump administration has withdrawn from the WHO.