United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a stronger global approach to preventing, preparing for and responding to future pandemics. Speaking at a high-level UN meeting on September 25, Guterres stressed that no country can protect itself from pandemic threats alone.Key HighlightsAntónio Guterres called for stronger global cooperation on pandemic preparedness.The UN chief said countries need sustainable funding for health systems.He highlighted the importance of disease surveillance and early detection.The UN stressed equity in access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics.Guterres backed a One Health approach involving human, animal and environmental health.Countries are continuing work on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and its pathogen access and benefit-sharing system.Why Did the UN Chief Call for Global Pandemic Action?Guterres said the COVID-19 pandemic showed that countries cannot deal with major health emergencies in isolation. He called for preparedness based on equity, solidarity, science and international cooperation.He also stressed the need to strengthen community-based health systems so countries can detect, monitor, communicate about and contain disease outbreaks more effectively.What Did Guterres Say About Future Pandemics?In remarks delivered by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Guterres said the next pandemic is a matter of “when” rather than “if”. He urged governments to make pandemic preparedness a long-term priority rather than waiting for another major outbreak.He also called for predictable and sustainable financing to support health systems and pandemic preparedness efforts.Why Is Global Cooperation Important?The second UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response brought countries together in New York to review progress since the first such meeting in 2023.The UN said the meeting focused on a multilateral and intergenerational approach, with equity and solidarity at the centre of efforts to prevent and respond to pandemics.What Is the WHO Pandemic Agreement?The WHO Pandemic Agreement is part of international efforts to improve global preparedness following the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries adopted the agreement in 2025, while negotiations continue on its Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system.The system is intended to support timely sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential while helping ensure equitable access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other products developed from that research.What Is the One Health Approach?Guterres also called for a One Health approach, which recognizes the links between human health, animal health and the environment.The approach aims to improve understanding of how diseases can move between animals, humans and ecosystems and strengthen efforts to identify and prevent outbreaks before they spread.What Challenges Remain?The WHO said global pandemic preparedness has improved since 2023, but significant challenges remain. These include unequal access to health products, fragmented financing, weaknesses in surveillance and laboratory systems, and gaps in health-system capacity.The UN and WHO therefore continue to emphasize sustained investment, stronger national health systems and international cooperation between major health emergencies.
