WHO pandemic treaty - Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) is negotiating a new pandemic treaty in which the aim is to strengthen the international regulatory framework for preparing for pandemics and other health threats. Multilateral cooperation is essential for combating pandemics and other large-scale health emergencies, which, as a rule, know no borders and require joint action.

Based on its mandate, the WHO plays a key role in responding to global health challenges. Under its Constitution, the WHO may also, upon request, assist its Member States in health emergencies.

Aim is to strengthen preparedness for pandemic threats

The WHO Member States have assessed that the international regulatory framework for preparing for pandemics and other health threats must be strengthened. At its special session in December 2021, the World Health Assembly decided to establish an intergovernmental negotiating body to prepare a treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The intergovernmental treaty negotiations began in February 2022. The aim of the future pandemic treaty is to further strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response internationally.

Finland participates in the negotiations as part of the European Union

The negotiations on pandemic treaty take place between the WHO Member States. This means that Finland also participates in the negotiations. Finland participates in the negotiations as part of the European Union, which forms the common positions for the negotiations. Finland’s delegation for the negotiations includes representatives from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. The delegation also consults other administrative branches and stakeholders. Parliament has been kept informed of the progress of both negotiations at their different stages, and Parliament takes part in forming Finland’s positions for the negotiations. In addition, discussion events have been arranged for stakeholders. The events have included participants from Amnesty International, the Finnish Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, for example. It is possible to follow the progress of the negotiations on the WHO's website.

Target timetable for adopting the treaty is May 2025

The aim is to conclude the negotiations on the pandemic treaty so that they could be adopted at the World Health Assembly in May 2025. The World Health Assembly is comprised of all the WHO Member States. As a rule, the World Health Assembly makes its decisions by consensus. This means that all the Member States would have to approve the decision on the pandemic treaty.

However, if the Assembly is unable to reach a decision by consensus, the voting procedure under the WHO Constitution will apply. It is likely that the adoption of the pandemic treaty will require a two-thirds majority of the Members present at the World Health Assembly.

After the World Health Assembly has adopted the pandemic treaty, each WHO Member State will discuss and commit to it in accordance with its constitutional processes.

Current international regulatory framework and amendments to the IHR

The WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) are the key international agreement in force and form the key foundation for international cooperation, covering measures for preparing for, and responding to, cross-border health threats. The purpose of the IHR is to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of diseases. Based on the IHR, the States Parties are committed to measures that strengthen the capacities of the states to prevent, detect and respond to health threats. The States Parties must also report threats that have been detected. Finland brought the IHR into force by an act and a decree (Finnish Treaty Series 50 and 51/2007, in Finnish).

In parallel with the negotiations on the new pandemic treaty, the WHO Member States negotiated amendments to the IHR since November 2022. An agreement was reached on a package of amendments at the World Health Assembly on 1 June. Some of the amendments adopted by the World Health Assembly are minor and technical, whereas others are larger-scale in nature. The outcome of the negotiations is in line with Finland’s position and objectives.

The WHO Director-General notifyed all Member States of the adopted IHR amendments. The Member States have ten months to discuss and accept the amendments at the national level. The amendments will enter into force 12 months after the date of the notification by the Director-General for all those Member States that do not opt out of the amendments. In Finland, the amendments will be considered first by the Government, then by Parliament and finally by the President of the Republic.

Treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response on the WHO's website
Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations
Europe communications submitted to Parliament (in Finnish)
Union communications submitted to Parliament (in Finnish)
News item 19 March 2024: WHO pandemic treaty to be negotiated in Geneva on 18–29 March
News item 26 April 2023: Stakeholders were consulted about negotiations on WHO pandemic treaty
News item 5 December 2022: Negotiations on future WHO pandemic treaty take place in Geneva this week
News item 30 September 2022: Future WHO pandemic treaty discussed in Helsinki

Updated: 14.10.2024 15.45

Frequently asked questions

Based on the mandate given to it by its Member States, the World Health Organization (WHO) has a key coordinating role in combating pandemics and other large-scale health emergencies. The WHO may assist its Member States in health emergencies upon their request. In addition, the Member States may draw up international treaties within the WHO framework. An example of such a treaty is the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), which were drawn up to combat cross-border health threats. Finland brought the IHR into force in 2007.
The purpose of the pandemic treaty and the IHR amendments is not to change the competence of the WHO under the WHO Constitution in relation to the nation states but to intensify cooperation between the Member States and with the WHO and to strengthen national preparedness. Now, the WHO may, for example, declare a global public health emergency on the basis of expert assessments, which is intended to serve as an alert to the Member States. There is currently no similar mechanism for declaring a pandemic. The WHO provides advice and guidance to its Member States and supports them in responding to emergencies, especially in the early stages.

At the global level, preparedness, readiness and healthcare capacity is inadequate. The purpose of the pandemic treaty is to commit the Member States to capacity building and to improve the structures of cooperation. The organisation of healthcare and preparedness will continue to fall within the scope of national competence.
Finland considers it important that global pandemic preparedness and readiness be improved in all countries. Pandemics can begin in different ways and in different parts of the world. Because of this, it is important to identify and manage them so that the spread of an infectious disease can be stopped or limited. The treaty can also enhance international cooperation between different operators and sectors. It is essential that cooperation in crises works well and is effective.
Finland considers that the pandemic treaty should strengthen global justice and international cooperation. During the negotiations, Finland has stressed that the pandemic treaty should primarily address issues that are not covered by other existing mechanisms. Issues related to health security require strong national commitment and ownership from all Member States. It is also important to respect national competence in the future, even though international cooperation in, and the normative framework for, health security are strengthened. No obligations or powers restricting national competence during a health threat should be included in the treaty. The role of the Member States in defining health policy and organising health services must be taken into account.
The issue of putting WHO funding on a more sustainable basis will be discussed separately during other processes. WHO funding relies largely on the biggest donors, with a large proportion of the funding earmarked for specific areas of work. The lack of flexibility and predictability in funding makes the Organization’s work more difficult. For a long time, membership fees have accounted for less than 20 per cent of the WHO's total budget. For this reason, the World Health Assembly made a decision in spring 2022 to gradually increase the Member States' assessed contributions (membership dues) by 2031 at the latest. This will help to ensure a more sustainable funding base. In addition, efforts will be made to improve the efficiency of the Organization’s activities.
Finland participates in the negotiations as part of the European Union, which forms the common positions for the negotiations. Finland takes an active part in forming the EU’s common positions. According to a preliminary assessment, the pandemic treaty and the possible amendments to the IHR would include provisions that fall within the competence of both the EU and the Member States.
The aim is to conclude the negotiations on the pandemic treaty and the IHR amendments so that they could be adopted at the World Health Assembly in May 2024. The World Health Assembly is comprised of all the WHO Member States. As a rule, the World Health Assembly makes its decisions by consensus. This means that all the Member States would have to approve the decision on both the pandemic treaty and the IHR amendments.

However, if the Assembly is unable to reach a decision in either case by consensus, the voting procedure under the WHO Constitution will apply. It is likely that the adoption of the pandemic treaty will require a two-thirds majority of the Members present at the World Health Assembly.

After the World Health Assembly has adopted the pandemic treaty and the amendments to the IHR, each WHO Member State will process and commit to them in accordance with its constitutional processes. The international pandemic treaty will not enter into force until a sufficient number of Member States, as defined in the treaty, have ratified it.

Further information

Pasi Korhonen, Director of EU and International Affairs
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, International Affairs Unit (KVY) Telephone:0295163175 Email Address: [email protected]

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Aim is to strengthen preparedness for pandemic threats

Finland participates in the negotiations as part of the European Union

Target timetable for adopting the treaty is May 2025

Current international regulatory framework and amendments to the IHR

Frequently asked questions

Further information

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