World Health Organization members formally adopt landmark pandemic response agreement in a move aimed at streamlining global responses to future outbreaks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a Pandemic Agreement aimed at improving the global response to future pandemics. The agreement was approved by WHO member countries after over three years of negotiations, sparked by the COVID-19 crisis. It aims to prevent a disjointed response and international disarray by guaranteeing that countries sharing virus samples will receive tests, medicines, and vaccines in return. Up to 20% of these products would be allocated to the WHO to ensure poorer countries have access to them. The agreement was overwhelmingly passed in a vote of the World Health Assembly, with leaders of member states, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailing the accord. Despite not having the support of the United States, the agreement was adopted, with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calling it an "historic day.