Published on: 2026-09-16
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Daniel Dickinson
September 16, 2026 Healthcare
Five years after COVID-19 took millions of lives, severely damaged healthcare systems, disrupted society’s usual way of life, and virtually stopped the global economy, the world is striving to ensure better preparedness for the next pandemic. This task becomes even more urgent against the backdrop of growing threats to global stability and security associated with the emergence of new infectious diseases, as well as climate crises and conflicts.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than seven million people have died as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic not only took lives but also caused serious damage to the economy, disrupted entire healthcare systems, and demonstrated how unequal the access to vaccines, tests, and treatments was between rich and poor countries.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the global response to the pandemic “a story of human ingenuity and human failure.” Vaccines were developed in record time, but insufficient emergency preparedness meant that the most vulnerable people had the least access to healthcare and suffered the most.
Why global readiness is important
Viruses such as COVID-19 do not recognize borders. An outbreak detected in one country can quickly spread worldwide, posing a threat to people in every corner of the planet.
That is why international priorities include epidemiological surveillance, data sharing, scientific research and development of new tools, as well as ensuring access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatment.
For the same reason, the health of people, animals, and the environment is now regarded as a single interconnected system. More than 60 percent of new infectious diseases are transmitted to humans from animals, so careful surveillance at the intersection of the three areas is critically important.
The problem of inequality
The COVID-19 pandemic vividly demonstrated the deep inequality in access to vaccines, tests, and treatment methods. Wealthier countries with production capacities were significantly better prepared.
However, the issue of equality goes beyond access to vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics. It also includes access to knowledge and skills, resources, and funding.
Closing this gap is a key argument for considering pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response as an international, rather than exclusively national, task.
Global agreement on combating pandemics
The COVID-19 pandemic has become a warning signal for the world. It has become clear that international cooperation is key to preventing and responding to future pandemics.
“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past when the next pandemic breaks out, because we know it will happen… This means we must work together,” warned the UN Secretary-General.
The international community has already made progress. In May 2025, a historic WHO Agreement on pandemic prevention was adopted – the first globally legally binding treaty on preventing, preparing for, and responding to pandemics.
Adopting the agreement is only the beginning
Countries still need to agree on the annex concerning access to pathogens and benefit-sharing. This mechanism involves the exchange of virus samples and, in turn, guarantees countries in need access to vaccines, diagnostic tools, and treatments developed based on them.
After the app is adopted by the World Health Assembly, the agreement can be opened for signature and ratification at the national level. The document will require 60 ratifications to enter into force.
The agreement also provides for the creation of a Global Supply Chains and Logistics Network, which will enable the delivery of medical supplies to countries during emergencies, as well as a new coordinating financial mechanism to support the strengthening and expansion of capacity in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
What is necessary to prevent an emergency
To improve preparedness for the next pandemic, the international community needs to focus on the following areas:
prevention of outbreaks before they occur and stopping their spread;
a higher level of readiness, including the availability of necessary skills and resources, including for scientific research and development;
more effective response, ensuring continuity of essential medical services;
the presence of additional capacities and capabilities for rapid production ramp-up, distributed across different regions, as well as resilient supply chains.
The foundation for all these efforts should be sustainable and predictable funding, as well as a legal framework for international coordination and cooperation.
UN High-level Week
The UN General Assembly, comprising 193 states, will hold a high-level meeting on September 25, 2026, at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. World leaders will discuss coordination of global actions, financing, and equitable access to medical supplies.
The adoption of a political declaration is expected, which should enshrine new commitments of the states.
What next?
It is impossible to predict when the next pandemic will occur, so preparing for it is crucial.
The main lesson of COVID-19 is that preparedness cannot begin when hospitals are already overwhelmed. It must be undertaken now – by strengthening healthcare systems, creating more effective early warning systems, and developing international cooperation – based on the simple principle that protecting people anywhere in the world helps protect people everywhere.
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