WHO Advances on Pandemic Agreement and Faces Budget Cuts at Major Annual Meeting

Next week marks a pivotal moment for global health governance as representatives from around the world gather in Geneva for the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual assembly, scheduled from May 19 to 27, 2025. The assembly brings together thousands of delegates and high-ranking officials to deliberate on critical health issues, including the adoption of a groundbreaking international pandemic agreement and a significant overhaul of WHO's operational budget.

A central focus of the meeting will be the anticipated ratification of a comprehensive pandemic response treaty aimed at enhancing global preparedness and swift action against future health crises. After over three years of negotiations, countries reached a consensus on the treaty’s text last month, and final approval by the World Health Assembly is expected on Tuesday. The agreement includes the creation of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS), designed to facilitate rapid sharing of pathogen data and enable pharmaceutical companies to develop necessary medical countermeasures swiftly. Once ratified, this system will open for signature with the goal of full implementation by the 2026 WHA, requiring at least 60 states to ratify for it to enter into force.

However, the assembly also faces pressing financial challenges. US funding cuts, which began with the Trump administration's decision to withdraw support and drastically reduce aid earlier in the decade, continue to impact WHO's finances. The US, previously the agency’s largest contributor with a $1.3 billion investment for 2022-2023, has not participated in recent negotiations, leaving the organization to proceed without what would have been a vital partner. WHO officials warn that the loss of US funds, combined with reductions from other nations, has created a budget shortfall of over $500 million for the upcoming biennium. To address this, member states are expected to approve a 20% increase in mandatory membership fees, which, if ratified, could raise over $2.6 billion for the 2026-27 budget period. Despite this, a projected gap of approximately $1.7 billion remains, prompting discussions about further budget reductions.

In response to the financial crisis, WHO intends to significantly cut its operational staff and leadership team to manage costs. The organization has proposed a reduced budget of $4.2 billion for the upcoming biennium, a 21% decrease from previous estimates, to adapt to the diminished financial inflows. These measures highlight the urgent need for sustained funding to ensure WHO’s capacity to fulfill its global health mandate effectively.

The upcoming assembly represents a critical juncture for international health cooperation, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and sustainable funding to combat future pandemics effectively. The decisions made during this meeting will shape global health strategies and funding mechanisms for years to come.