WHO Calls for Sustained Global Investment to Strengthen Defences Against Future Pandemics.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for sustained political commitment, international cooperation and long term investment to strengthen the world’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to future pandemics.
The call was made during the second United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response, held in New York on September 25, 2026. The meeting brought world leaders together to review progress since the first high-level meeting in 2023 and reinforce global efforts to address weaknesses exposed by the COVID 19 pandemic.
WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said continued action and investment were necessary to maintain progress and ensure countries are better equipped to respond to future health emergencies. He pointed to the need for stronger national and local health capacities, resilient health systems, equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics, as well as improved surveillance and early-warning systems.
According to WHO, COVID 19 exposed significant weaknesses in global health security. The organisation said the pandemic was associated with more than 20 million excess deaths between 2020 and 2023 and caused economic losses exceeding US$10 trillion. WHO has subsequently supported several initiatives aimed at improving preparedness, including stronger surveillance, pathogen sharing systems, local production of medical products and expanded emergency response capacity.
The UN meeting also highlighted the importance of sustainable financing, particularly as countries seek to maintain preparedness between major outbreaks rather than intensifying investment only when a crisis occurs. WHO has previously warned that financing gaps remain, particularly in low and middle income countries, where stronger health systems, emergency workforces and disease surveillance require sustained resources.
Another major issue discussed was the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system under the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The mechanism is intended to establish arrangements for the timely sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential while supporting equitable access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other products developed from pathogen research. WHO said negotiations on the PABS annex need to be concluded before the agreement can move towards national consideration and ratification.
The renewed focus comes as countries continue to confront infectious disease threats, including an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO Director General Tedros described the outbreak as a reminder that epidemics can emerge in any location and potentially create risks beyond affected communities.
For Africa, the discussions carry particular significance because pandemic preparedness depends not only on international assistance but also on stronger domestic health systems, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, trained health workers and regional manufacturing capabilities. WHO has highlighted local and regional production of vaccines and other health products as part of efforts to improve equitable access during future emergencies.
The UN high level meeting ultimately reinforced the position that pandemic preparedness must remain a long term global priority, with countries expected to translate political commitments into financing, stronger institutions and practical capacity before the next major health emergency occured.