Six years ago, the World Health Organization issued its highest global alert, declaring the novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. While that emergency status ended in May 2023, the reverberations of COVID-19 continue to shape global health, and the question of pandemic preparedness looms large.
Is the World Ready for the Next Pandemic?
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the answer, according to the WHO, is a intricate yes and no-progress has been made, but notable vulnerabilities remain.
- A historic WHO Pandemic Agreement was adopted in May 2025, aiming for a comprehensive approach to pandemic prevention.
- Amendments to the International Health Regulations, designed to strengthen national capacities, took effect in September 2025.
- The Pandemic Fund has allocated over US$ 1.2 billion to 67 projects in 98 countries,bolstering surveillance and workforce training.
- Advances in genomic sequencing and epidemic intelligence are enabling faster threat detection in over 110 nations.
The world is better prepared in many ways, thanks to concrete steps taken to strengthen defenses. “The pandemic taught all of us many lessons – especially that global threats demand a global response,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated at the opening of the 158th session of the Executive Board. “Solidarity is the best immunity.”
Progress as COVID-19
Following the lessons learned from COVID-19, the WHO, its Member States, and partners have achieved notable advancements in pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response. Thes include the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement in May 2025, establishing a comprehensive framework to improve global health security and equity. Member States are currently negotiating the Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) system annex, with anticipated adoption at this year’s World Health Assembly, paving the way for the agreement’s legal implementation.
The Republic of Korea and WHO, aims to boost workforce skills in vaccine and biologics manufacturing, increasing equitable access globally.
The global Health Emergency Corps, established in 2023, supports countries facing public health emergencies by assessing workforce capacities, deploying surge support, and fostering a network of emergency leaders to share best practices. The Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) continues to help countries identify gaps and strengthen accountability.
Prior to the pandemic, 121 countries had established national public health agencies responsible for health emergency prevention, preparedness, response, and resilience. Twenty countries completed joint External Evaluations, 195 States Parties filed annual IHR reports, and 22 countries finalized National Action Plans for Health Security. The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) processes over 12 million samples annually for influenza characterization and vaccine advancement. Under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP), WHO signed eight new agreements in 2025, bringing the total to 19 contracts with pandemic product manufacturers, securing access to antivirals, diagnostics, syringes, and over 900 million vaccine doses for future influenza pandemics.
Fragile Gains
Despite these remarkable achievements,reflecting a shared global commitment,progress remains fragile. Funding is increasingly diverted from health to defense and national security, jeopardizing the systems strengthened during COVID-19. this shift is shortsighted, as pandemics are national security threats.
Investing in preparedness is an investment in lives saved, economies protected, and societies stabilized.
WHO urges all governments, partners, and stakeholders not to abandon pandemic preparedness and prevention efforts.This week’s Executive board meeting will be pivotal in shaping the future of global health collaboration, accountability, and efficiency.
Pathogens respect no borders, and no country can tackle a pandemic alone. Global health security demands collaboration across sectors,governments,and regions. WHO remains committed to working with all countries to strengthen preparedness, accelerate innovation, and uphold solidarity, supporting Member States in finalizing a global compact for a safer world.
Preparedness requires continuous vigilance. The time to prepare is now-before the next pandemic strikes.
