---
title: "Landmark global pandemic agreement adopted by World Health Organisation members"
description: "GENEVA, May 20 (Reuters) - Members of the World Health Organisation adopted a landmark agreement on Tuesday on how to prepare for future pandemics following the COVID-19 outbreak, which killed millions of people between the years of 2020 and 2022."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-20-landmark-global-pandemic-agreement-adopted-by-world-health-organisation-members/"
published: "2025-05-20T12:45:50"
updated: "2025-05-20T12:45:56"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 165
---

# Landmark global pandemic agreement adopted by World Health Organisation members

> GENEVA, May 20 (Reuters) - Members of the World Health Organisation adopted a landmark agreement on Tuesday on how to prepare for future pandemics following the COVID-19 outbreak, which killed millions of people between the years of 2020 and 2022.

By Reuters · Published 20 May 2025, 14:45 SAST · Updated 20 May 2025, 14:45 SAST

## Key points
- After three years of diplomatic wrangling, the World Health Assembly finally struck a chord of unity with a new pandemic treaty, leaving Slovakia's vaccine-skeptic prime minister to sulk in the abstention corner while 124 countries celebrated a collective win for global health.
- WHO member countries celebrate the adoption of a legally binding pandemic treaty after three years of negotiations.
- The pact is hailed as a significant win for public health and multilateral cooperation amid funding cuts to global health organizations.
- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes the treaty's role in enhancing global pandemic preparedness.
- Despite a last-minute challenge from Slovakia, 124 countries voted in favor, with 11 abstentions, reflecting broad support for the agreement.

## Content

By Olivia Le Poidevin

After three years of negotiations, the legally binding pact was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva. WHO member countries welcomed its passing with applause.

The pact is widely seen as a victory for members of the global health agency at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by [sharp cuts](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3Q31PC&linkedFromStory=true) in U.S. foreign funding.

"The agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The treaty faced a [late challenge](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3RR13Y&linkedFromStory=true) on Monday when Slovakia called for a vote, as its COVID-19 vaccine-sceptic prime minister demanded that his country challenge the adoption of the agreement.

One hundred and twenty-four countries [voted in favour](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3RR1DE&linkedFromStory=true), no countries voted against, while 11 countries, including Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran, abstained.

(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, additional reporting by Jan Lopatka editing by Rachel More)