By ifeoma Onyekachi

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that the world could be approaching another major pandemic, even as it ramps up one of the most extensive global health collaborations ever assembled to counter emerging threats.

The caution came at a landmark Global Forum that convened more than 800 WHO Collaborating Centres from over 80 countries bringing together leading scientists, epidemiologists, and public health experts to reassess global readiness in the face of rapidly evolving health risks.

Participants pointed to a convergence of destabilising factors including climate change, armed conflicts, and increasingly fragile healthcare systems as key drivers creating fertile ground for new infectious diseases to emerge and spread at unprecedented speed.

Despite the growing concerns, the forum concluded with a renewed sense of urgency and commitment. Delegates agreed that the global response to health emergencies must shift away from fragmented, rigid research models toward more agile, coordinated, and cross-border collaboration.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the organisation’s network of collaborating centres as a powerful but underutilised asset in the global health architecture.

“WHO’s network of collaborating centres is an immensely valuable but under-utilised resource for global health. It brings together the world’s leading institutions to translate evidence into action, strengthen health systems, and protect populations,” he said.

He emphasised that the network represents a model for effective international cooperation, demonstrating the impact of aligning scientific expertise with shared global priorities.

Established following a 1949 decision of the World Health Assembly, the WHO Collaborating Centres network has evolved over 77 years into a vast ecosystem of universities, laboratories, and technical institutions. Today, it plays a pivotal role in setting global health standards, advancing research, and translating scientific discoveries into life-saving interventions.

At the forum, WHO unveiled plans to deepen global cooperation through new frameworks, including Collaborative Open Research Consortia designed to connect thousands of scientists worldwide and accelerate innovation in outbreak preparedness and response.

A central focus of these efforts is readiness for “Disease X” a term used to describe an unknown pathogen with the potential to trigger the next global pandemic. Experts say the initiative aims to fast-track the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics before such a threat materialises.

WHO’s Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness, Sylvie Briand, underscored the urgency of collective action.

“We are facing a time of growing global health challenges. The global network of WHO collaborating centres represents an extraordinary concentration of scientific expertise and public health leadership,” she said, stressing that collaboration is no longer optional but essential.

The forum also highlighted mounting concerns over declining global health funding, warning that reduced financial support could significantly weaken preparedness systems and allow local outbreaks to escalate into full-scale global crises.

Held as part of activities marking World Health Day 2026, under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science,” the gathering signalled what WHO described as a critical turning point in global health cooperation.

With the next Global Forum scheduled for 2027, the organisation says it is intensifying efforts to build a more resilient, coordinated, and science-driven global response system aimed at ensuring the world is better prepared for the next major health emergency.