The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response statement to the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Delivered by Dr Michel Kazatchkine, Member of the Independent Panel, to the open Relevant Stakeholder session on 7 November 2025.
Thank you Chair,
I am making this statement on behalf of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.
Congratulations for the work this week.
We are concerned however to learn about ongoing efforts to make bilateral deals on health security. The template agreement we and many of you have no doubt seen, includes conditions requiring countries to share specimens and sequences of pathogens with epidemic potential within a matter of days.
In our view, these bilateral agreements will undermine the multilateral system. They will bypass the WHO, and the foundations of solidarity and equity we have been trying to build here.
The template offers no guarantees of access to countermeasures and gives commercial dominance to one country. It threatens health security, data security and ultimately national sovereignty.
We fully understand that some countries will consider entering into these agreements.
However, we cannot stress enough the importance of a multilateral approach for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. We underscore the importance of, and express our support for a successful, financed pandemic agreement that comes into force and is implemented as soon as possible.
Together with implementation of the amended International Health Regulations, we can have a safer world.
When pathogens know no borders, multilateralism is the only answer.
End.
About The Independent Panel
The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response was established to provide independent oversight and recommendations on global pandemic preparedness. Co-chaired by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, the panel continues to monitor progress and advocate for strengthened global health security.
Media Contact: Secretariat@IndependentPanel.org