Negotiations on WHO Pandemic Agreement Conclude with Philippines Championing Equity and Global Solidarity on Health

Philippine Permanent Representative to the WHO, Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta (2nd from right) with WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (3rd from right) during the Briefing for the Group for Equity of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to Draft and Negotiate a Pandemic Agreement.

GENEVA 21 April 2025 — The Philippines, along with WHO Member States which formed the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) to draft and negotiate a World Health Organization (WHO) convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (Pandemic Agreement), concluded negotiations for the Agreement’s final text after a gruelling final round of talks that began in the morning of Tuesday, 15 April 2025, and ended at 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 April.

The Tuesday round of talks was a continuation of the Resumed 13th INB Session for the WHO Pandemic Agreement that was initially scheduled from 07 to 11 April 2025. Unfinished negotiations had to be suspended in the morning of Saturday, 12 April, twenty-four hours after they started, with the INB members agreeing to conclude all unfinished parts of the Agreement during the resumed session on Tuesday, 15 April.

The Philippine Delegation to the INB, led by Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary for Policy, Dr. Kenneth G. Ronquillo, practiced skillful diplomacy by actively negotiating for a Pandemic Agreement that reflects the Philippines’ advocacy for equity and the best health outcomes for all.

The PhilDel included DOH officials, as well as officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva. Other Philippine agencies monitored the negotiations remotely and gave advice to the delegation on the ground. The Manila-based negotiators had to return home after the suspension of the Resumed INB 13th Session on Friday and followed the last day of negotiations on Tuesday to Saturday online, via the Zoom platform provided by the WHO.

Carlos D. Sorreta, Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN lauded the conclusion of negotiations, stating that the Philippines has once again demonstrated its ability to help shape international health policies, building upon the country’s experience in managing health emergencies, promoting universal health care, and championing the rights of vulnerable and marginalized populations.

In previous rounds of negotiations, the Philippines played the role of a bridge builder and amplified the voices of developing countries by helping launch the Group for Equity on 12 June 2023 during the 5th Session of the INB. The group of more than 30 developing countries share a strong commitment to global health and a Pandemic Agreement anchored on the principles of equity, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility.

The Philippines, as a leading voice of developing countries, actively engaged in discussions, both on the negotiation floor and in informal sessions, and consistently advocated for the inclusion of robust provisions on equitable access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and health technologies. Throughout the negotiation process, the Philippines emphasized that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic must drive the world to ensure that no country or community is left behind in future health emergencies.

Philippine Mission to the UN in Geneva Health Expert, First Secretary and Consul Jeff Valdez delivered the Group for Equity’s final joint statement on the negotiation floor, saying, “The Group for Equity is very proud to have been an indispensable part of this process. We have fought for the interest of developing Member States, while also serving as a platform for consensus building… knowing when to make a stand and when to work with our interlocutors…. The Group acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of all delegations…”

“In my national capacity… allow me to honor the Philippine delegation, some of whom are still connected virtually, from helping coordinate the Group for Equity to serving as co-facilitator and helping build consensus as credible bridge builders, we actively advanced our national priorities but always with respect for all concerned and the understanding that we are part of the larger community of nations. We thank all partners in this most noble of endeavors. Maraming salamat po!” Mr. Valdez concluded.

These remarks were met with hearty applause from the delegations still gathered in the WHO auditorium in Geneva.

The Philippines was also the leading voice in the crafting of the Pandemic Agreement’s provisions on Health Care Workforce, which focuses on protecting the health professionals and maintaining essential health care services and public health functions at all times and during pandemic emergencies.

Moreover, the Philippines was instrumental in ensuring that ethics in research is baked into the Agreement’s provisions, as well as excluding confidentiality provisions that limit disclosure of relevant terms of purchase agreements pandemic-related vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

Coming in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the WHO Pandemic Agreement represents a historic opportunity for the international community to establish stronger, coordinated mechanisms for pandemic prevention, early detection, and response; enhance information sharing and transparency; support capacity-building, particularly in developing countries; and ensure a more equitable distribution of resources during health crises.

For the international community, this Agreement signals a collective commitment to never repeat the mistakes of the past. It aspires to build a future where solidarity, trust, and fairness guide global action in the face of pandemics, ultimately protecting lives, livelihoods, and stability worldwide.

The conclusion of negotiations on Wednesday marks the end of the INB process, which lasted for three and a half years, beginning in December 2021, when the World Health Assembly, at its second-ever special session, established this intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

After the negotiation process, the consensus text of the Pandemic Agreement shall then be endorsed to the 78th World Health Assembly for adoption.

The Philippines, in the person of Secretary of Health, Hon. Teodoro J. Herbosa, is expected to assume the Presidency of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2025, representing the WHO’s Western Pacific Region. Sec. Herbosa, shall preside over the passing of a WHA resolution adopting the Pandemic Agreement. The Philippines reiterates its call for all Member States to stand united in adopting an agreement that truly serves all of humanity. The Agreement will be open for signatures upon conclusion of negotiations on an Annex on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System. END

Philippine First Secretary Jeff Valdez delivers the final statement on behalf of the Group for Equity during the closing session of the Pandemic Agreement negotiations

For more information, visit https://www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.facebook.com/PHinGeneva/ or https://www.instagram.com/phingeneva/ .