WHO’s Global Pandemic Treaty is Expected to Be Adopted on May 20
X/ @TheCanDec
May 13, 2025 Hour: 12:43 pm
Once adopted, however, the treaty must be ratified by at least 60 countries before it can enter into force.
The first global treaty on pandemics, whose text was agreed upon on April 16 by members of the World Health Organization (WHO), is expected to be officially adopted on May 20.
RELATED:
“WHO Warns: U.S. Cuts Cause Severe Health Disruptions in Over 70 Countries”
Gaudenz Silberschmidt, WHO director for Health and Multilateral Partnerships, said that following the adoption, heads of state and government are expected to respond to the launch of the historic treaty. The global health community aims to avoid repeating the mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once adopted, the treaty must be ratified by at least 60 countries before it can enter into force, WHO legal adviser Steve Solomon explained.
The annual World Health Assembly, scheduled for May 19–27, will center on the adoption of the global pandemic treaty. On this occasion, the United States is expected to be absent.
In 2024, the U.S. ceased to be the WHO’s main contributor, severely impacting the financial situation of the multilateral institution. Since U.S. President Donald Trump announced his country’s withdrawal from the WHO, the agency has faced a US$600 million budget shortfall this year and has acknowledged challenges in continuing programs ranging from malaria control to tuberculosis and HIV prevention.
Catharina Boehme, WHO assistant director for external relations and governance, noted that financial constraints have forced her organization to cut its 2026–2027 budget from US$5.4 billion to US$4.2 billion.
WHO officials also emphasized that even the upcoming assembly had to reduce its “extraordinary costs” allocation from the initially budgeted US$4.1 million to US$2.7 million.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE