WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that time is running out to finalize a global pandemic agreement, urging world leaders to act decisively. 

Addressing the Thirteenth Intergovernmental Negotiating Body meeting on Monday, he called it a “now or never” moment, emphasizing the urgent need to prepare for future pandemics. The high-stakes negotiations, set to conclude in May, come amid mounting challenges, including the US withdrawal from the process.

“As you know, we are at a crucial point, as you move to finalize the Pandemic Agreement in time for the World Health Assembly,” said WHO Director-General Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyussus in his opening remarks at the meeting. "It really is a case of now or never."

He continued: “But I am confident that you will choose now, because you know what is at stake.”

This week’s negotiations span five days, with another five days planned for April. After that, the goal is to present an agreement at the World Health Assembly in May. 

Friday will be crucial in determining whether the talks will succeed or not. If negotiators fail to reach a consensus, it could mark the end of the global effort to pandemic-proof the world.

“You remember the hard-won lessons of COVID-19, which left an estimated 20 million of our brothers and sisters dead, and which continues to kill. They are why we are here: to protect future generations from the impact of future pandemics. Because we know that the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if,” Dr Tedros said.

“There are reminders all around us: Ebola, Marburg, measles, mpox, influenza, and the threat of the next disease X."

The WHO chief asked the world to act urgently as "no country can protect itself by itself."

"Bilateral agreements will only get you so far,” he pointed out. “Prevention is the responsibility of all countries; Preparedness is the responsibility of all countries; And response is the responsibility of all countries."

Dr Tedros admitted that coming together of the world was not easy. "It was never going to be. But that is the power of multilateralism,” he said.

Member states of the WHO are currently negotiating a new international pandemic agreement. Since 2021, they have convened multiple times to draft the accord. Initially, a final vote was expected at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2024. However, due to unresolved disagreements on several provisions, it was decided to extend negotiations into 2025, with the aim of holding a final vote at the May 2025 WHA.

The Biden administration had supported the idea of an agreement and had actively participated in negotiations since the process began. But the president’s Trump’s executive order withdrawing the US from WHO also states that "the US will cease negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement." 

"Such agreement and amendments will have no binding force on the United States,” the executive order makes it clear. 

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