UN General Assembly adopts the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response

13 October 2026

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response on 12 October 2026.
Member States had considered the text at the second UNGA High-Level Meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response on 25 September 2026 and then referred it to the full General Assembly for adoption.
The declaration commits countries to sustain investment in national, regional and global capacity to prevent, detect and respond to pandemic threats, and to treat preparedness as a health, development, economic and security priority.
It also commits them to implement the amended International Health Regulations (2005), to ensure timely access to pathogens and equitable benefit-sharing, to expand local and regional manufacturing and research capacity, and to secure sustainable financing.
The World Health Organization welcomed the adoption from Geneva and New York the same day.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "WHO welcomes this strong commitment by UN Member States", and added, "We urge countries to now fulfil the commitments they have made."
The outcome of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing negotiations is to be considered at the next World Health Assembly in May 2027, or earlier at a special session; adopting that annex would allow the WHO Pandemic Agreement to enter into force.