WHO pandemic agreement

The WHO Pandemic Agreement is designed to strengthen the early detection of dangerous pathogens and international cooperation in preparing for and managing future pandemics. Negotiations were concluded in mid-April and the agreement will be submitted to the World Health Assembly in May.

The drafting of the WHO pandemic agreement is one of the key recommendations of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic agreement will strengthen international cooperation in various areas of pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (e.g. research and development for pandemic-relevant products, early detection of dangerous pathogens).

For Switzerland, binding international cooperation is a key prerequisite for ensuring that countries worldwide are better prepared for health emergencies in the future. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that viruses can spread rapidly across national borders. Closer international cooperation and better preparation will also serve to protect Switzerland and its population.

Current state of affairs

At its special session at the end of 2021, the World Health Assembly (WHA) established an intergovernmental negotiating body by consensus. The process of negotiating the pandemic agreement was concluded in April 2025. The outcome of the negotiations will be submitted to the WHA for adoption in May 2025.

Adoption by the WHA does not prejudice any sovereign national decision on signing the agreement. Switzerland will continue to decide on its own health policy going forward.

Once the agreement has been adopted by the WHA, it will be submitted to the member states, which will be free to decide whether to accede. The text will not be open for signature by Member States until the annex on the PABS instrument, an access and benefit sharing mechanism for pathogens with pandemic potential, has been finalized, which may take one to two years.

The next steps for Switzerland

Once the agreement is ready for signing, Switzerland will decide on the basis of the final wording whether or not to join the agreement. The Federal Council will carefully examine the outcome of the negotiations. If the result is in Switzerland’s interests, the Federal Council will submit the agreement to parliament for approval.

Switzerland will thus continue to decide on its own health policy going forward.

All public meetings of the negotiating body can be viewed retrospectively.