Written by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the message underscored the shared global responsibility to protect humanity from a repeat of the devastation seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed up to 20 million lives and wiped out $13 trillion in global economic output.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, hospitals were overwhelmed, families lost loved ones in isolation, and frontline healthcare workers endured unprecedented strain. This collective trauma generated a promise among nations: never again face a pandemic unprepared, they wrote.
‘An act of hope’ in a divided world
More than a year ago, countries made significant progress by adopting the WHO Pandemic Agreement, committing to cooperate more effectively on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
“In a divided world, that outcome should not be taken for granted,” the letter said. “It was an act of hope and an act of faith in each other. We write to you now because that hope has not yet been fulfilled and because it is in your hands to help fulfill it.”
Standing in the way is the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Annex (PABS), a vital element of the agreement, which remains incomplete, President Lula and Tedros wrote.
This framework is essential to enable countries to quickly identify and share genetic information from dangerous pathogens so scientists can develop life-saving tests, treatments and vaccines.
Without the annex, the Pandemic Agreement cannot formally enter into force, leaving the promise unfulfilled, the joint message states.
Complex challenges remain
The challenges to finalizing the PABS Annex are complex, particularly when it comes to defining how the benefits of shared pathogens are equitably distributed and how governance ensures equity.
These were the same questions that were previously left unresolved, contributing to gaps in protection during COVID-19.
Negotiators are scheduled to meet again from July 6 to 17 to close these gaps.
Three critical requests
The call highlights three critical requests for world leaders:
- Political will at the highest level: Leaders must prioritize finalizing the annex and empower negotiators to seek a bold consensus. The agreement does not compromise national sovereignty or give the WHO authority to impose measures such as lockdowns or vaccination mandates. Those decisions remain firmly in the hands of each nation.
- Spirit of fairness: The PABS system is based on equity. Those who share pathogens quickly must trust that the resulting vaccines and treatments will also reach their populations, an approach that recognizes that pandemic prevention is not charity but a sound strategy, reducing costs and lives lost by containing outbreaks early. Equitable access must be guaranteed, ensuring clear and stable rules that replace the current crisis-based, case-by-case process.
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A sense of urgency: Scientists estimate there is almost a 25 percent chance of another pandemic in the next decade. Changing environmental and social factors are creating new outbreaks of disease around the world, while biotechnological advances increase the risks of accidental or intentional releases. The letter calls for July 17 to be considered a firm deadline for reaching an agreement, signaling a comprehensive commitment and avoiding dangerous delays.
An elderly woman receives her third COVID-19 booster dose at a vaccination center in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2024. (file)
The next crucial chapter
They warned that current outbreaks, such as Ebola in several countries without an approved vaccine, highlight current risks.
Reminding readers of the staggering human and economic cost of COVID-19, the letter stated that investing in early detection and outbreak response systems like the PABS framework is modest and essential by comparison.
Historically, the world has come together to save countless lives by defeating smallpox, bringing polio near eradication, and combating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.
“Ending this agreement is not a departure from that legacy,” the letter said. “It’s their natural next chapter and it’s within our reach.”
Watch our explanatory video on the Pandemic Agreement:
