At the UNITE Global Summit, that brings together every year academics, world health leaders, and legislators to tackle some of the most urgent worldwide health concerns. For politicians, members of civil society, and international organisations working on plans concerning healthcare systems, infectious illnesses, and pandemic preparedness, it provides a forum; one of the main priorities, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, is to create sustainable healthcare systems through the use of digital health technologies, sustainable finance, and guarantees of fair access to healthcare. Particularly in view of the setbacks resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic, the summit also seeks to promote alliances that will let nations fulfil their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The agenda includes talks on digital health systems, healthcare as a human right, and pandemic preparedness. Held recently in Berlin, parliamentarians from around the world took a historic step in supporting the WHO Pandemic Agreement, a critical international initiative aimed at addressing gaps in pandemic preparedness and response. By signing a joint statement, these leaders have underscored the importance of global cooperation, equitable access to health tools, and the strengthening of healthcare systems—especially for countries with fewer resources.

This commitment represents a monumental shift towards a more unified global response to pandemics, focusing on key pillars such as human rights, healthcare equity, and sustainable financing. The collective support for the agreement, still under negotiation, signals a growing recognition that the world must come together to ensure better protection against future pandemics, especially for vulnerable populations.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed glaring inequities in the global health landscape, where wealthier countries had swift access to vaccines, treatments, and medical supplies, while low-resource nations were left struggling. The 194 member states of the organisation are working on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which aims to address these disparities by ensuring that all nations, regardless of their economic standing, have equitable access to crucial medical equipment during pandemics.

Ricardo Baptista Leite, President of UNITE, emphasised that parliamentarians have a crucial role to play in advocating for this accord. “The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a historic opportunity to prevent pandemics and strengthen our global preparedness and response capabilities,” he said, adding that by signing the statement, parliamentarians are committing to the principles of equity, solidarity, and cooperation across borders.

A key component of the agreement is its emphasis on equitable access to pandemic-related tools, such as vaccines, personal protective equipment (PPE), and healthcare services. This is not just a logistical challenge but a moral imperative. As Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, pointed out, “The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a stronger, fairer, and more prepared global health system.”

Parliamentarians gathered at the UNITE Global Summit in Berlin have committed to four critical actions to support the success of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. First, they emphasised ensuring equitable access to pandemic-related health tools, ensuring that low-resource countries are not left behind in future responses. This principle of equity is foundational to the agreement, recognising that access to vaccines, treatments, and other healthcare resources must be based on need, not national wealth.

Second, the parliamentarians stressed global solidarity, advocating for stronger international cooperation to build resilient healthcare systems. Wealthier nations must support countries with fewer resources to ensure comprehensive preparedness for all.

Third, the leaders committed to legislative advocacy, pledging to push for the ratification and implementation of the Pandemic Agreement within their national legislatures. This will help transform the accord into a binding international framework, ensuring that its principles are actively enforced.

Finally, the agreement includes a commitment to combat misinformation by promoting evidence-based health information. Accurate information is vital for effective public health responses, especially in an age where misinformation can spread rapidly through social media.

These four interconnected actions are essential for building a more equitable and prepared global health system.

The Pandemic Agreement, which is expected to be finalized by the WHO’s 194 Member States by May 2025, will build on the lessons learned from COVID-19 while also preparing for other emerging health threats, such as mpox and other disease outbreaks. Importantly, the agreement will be adopted under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution, giving it the legal authority to create binding international conventions on matters related to global health.

The agreement will aim to close the gaps in global pandemic responses by ensuring that every country has access to the tools and resources needed to prevent and manage future pandemics. This includes vaccines, treatments, diagnostic tools, and medical supplies, as well as vital healthcare infrastructure.

The WHO's World Health Assembly established the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), which is in charge of drafting the agreement. The INB is working in close consultation with various stakeholders, including international organisations, civil society groups, and academic institutions, to ensure that the final accord reflects the needs of all nations.

A significant aspect of the WHO Pandemic Agreement is its focus on building a fairer global health system. It is widely acknowledged that pandemics disproportionately affect low-resource countries, not only in terms of health outcomes but also in economic recovery. By ensuring that all nations have the same access to pandemic prevention tools, the agreement aims to mitigate these disparities and promote global health security.

Dr. Tedros emphasised that the world must seize this opportunity to create a more just system, saying, “By signing this statement, parliamentarians from around the world are showing their commitment to protecting lives from future pandemics and ensuring equitable access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics, and other health tools for every country, particularly those with fewer resources.”

As the pandemic agreement continues to garner international support, the focus will remain on ensuring that it provides practical, actionable solutions for pandemic preparedness and response. Parliamentarians have pledged to work closely with WHO and other international organisations to ensure the agreement is not just a symbolic gesture but a functional tool for global health.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a major step towards ensuring equitable health access across the globe. With the support of parliamentarians, this accord has the potential to fundamentally reshape how the global community responds to pandemics, ensuring that no country is left behind in the race to safeguard public health.