By Abdullahi Lukman
The World Health Organisation (WHO) opened its Annual Assembly in Geneva on Monday, May 19, 2025, with the formal adoption of the long-awaited “International Pandemic Treaty” set for Tuesday.
The treaty, developed rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to prevent future global chaos during health crises and ensure fairer distribution of vaccines.
While the treaty is set to be formally adopted, several contentious issues remain unresolved.
These include negotiations on how vaccine manufacturers obtain pathogens with pandemic potential and the benefits for countries that provide them. These details are expected to be negotiated separately and added to the treaty over the next year.
Delegates from the WHO’s 194 member states are gathering at the World Health Assembly, the organization’s main decision-making body.
However, the WHO faces significant challenges, particularly after the United States, the agency’s largest donor, announced plans to withdraw in early 2026. This move is expected to cut nearly 20% of the WHO’s budget.
In response, the WHO has already implemented sweeping cost-cutting measures, including staff reductions.
The Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed that the organization will reduce the number of employees and streamline its departments from 76 to 34.
Germany, in an effort to fill the funding gap, pledged an additional €10 million ($11.2 million) in support of the WHO. The country had already committed approximately €290 million for 2024 and 2025.
Despite these efforts, the WHO continues to face financial challenges and structural adjustments, which will impact its operations and global health initiatives.