A whole-of-society approach is needed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to health emergencies, with WHO playing a unique and integral role. It is imperative that Member States remain committed to finalizing a pandemic agreement capable of making the world safer from future pandemic threats. We urge Member States to take into account the following recommendations regarding global governance, financing, and systems.

Global Governance
Efforts to strengthen the global health security architecture through the pandemic agreement, and future related agreements, must ensure complementarity with the International Health Regulations. Furthermore, governance mechanisms established must be inclusive of civil society and ensure gender parity. The governance mechanism of the agreement should also include provisions to strengthen compliance, including a fully independent monitoring committee in addition to states’ self-monitoring and a peer review mechanism.

Financing
To implement the pandemic agreement and potential future agreements on pathogen access and benefit-sharing and One Health, additional financing must be available to low- and middle-income countries to meet demands of any new obligations. This will be key to operationalizing the agreement and delivering on the promise of equity. We urge Member States to consider how existing institutions, platforms, and funds can support and finance initiatives within the agreement to avoid duplication and fragmentation, and achieve greater health equity both within and between countries.

Systems
Global health security depends on resilient health systems, based on the principles of human rights, equity, and leaving no one behind. Strengthening primary health care systems is critical to deliver essential health services at all times and identify and respond quickly to emergencies. Public health functions such as laboratory capacities and infrastructure; and a well-trained, integrated, adequately remunerated, and supported multidisciplinary health workforce are also essential. These include clinicians, community health workers, and public health professionals such as field epidemiologists.

Finally, meaningful civil society engagement and transparency remain critical to building trust and legitimacy in WHO’s work in health emergencies, including in ongoing pandemic agreement negotiations, and has an active role to play in supporting the adoption and implementation of the agreement at the national level.