SIX years after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the global health body has highlighted both significant progress in pandemic preparedness and the gaps that remain.

While the PHEIC was officially declared over in May 2023, WHO said the lessons of COVID-19 continue to shape global health efforts, warning that gains remain fragile and uneven. The agency called on countries to strengthen readiness and cooperation to ensure the world is better prepared for the next pandemic.

Speaking at the opening of the 158th session of the Executive Board, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said the pandemic had taught the world that global threats require a global response. “Solidarity is the best immunity,” he said, noting that while meaningful progress has been achieved, the advances remain fragile and uneven.

He said the WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, provides a comprehensive framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, and that Member States are negotiating the Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing (PABS) annexe ahead of this year’s World Health Assembly. Amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) also entered into force in September 2025, strengthening national capacities to detect and respond to health emergencies.

The WHO Pandemic Fund, co-founded with the World Bank,as provided more than $1.2 billion in grants, leveraging an additional $11 billion to support 67 projects in 98 countries.
Ghebreyesus said WHO has also enhanced global surveillance and response systems, including updating the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, expanding genomic sequencing capacities through the International Pathogen Surveillance Network, and growing the WHO BioHub to coordinate sample sharing across 30 countries.

Efforts to strengthen equitable local production of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments were also emphasised, and WHO has further invested in workforce readiness through the WHO Academy in France and the Global Health Emergency Corps, while the Universal Health and Preparedness Review continues to help countries identify gaps and strengthen accountability.

Ghebreyesus said these accomplishments reflect a global commitment to collaboration across borders and sectors to ensure the world is better prepared for future pandemics.

Despite these gains, Ghebreyesus warned that progress remains fragile, highlighting that funding for health systems continues to shift toward defence and national security. He stressed that investing in preparedness is not optional, but essential to save lives, protect economies, and stabilise societies.
Urging governments, partners, and stakeholders not to “drop the ball on pandemic preparedness and prevention,” Ghebreyesus emphasised that pathogens do not respect borders and global health security requires ongoing collaboration.

He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to support Member States as they finalise a global framework to strengthen preparedness, accelerate innovation, and uphold solidarity. “The time to prepare is now before the next pandemic strikes,” he said.