REMARKS BY MY ONG YE KUNG, MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND COORDINATING MINISTER FOR SOCIAL POLICIES, AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON PANDEMIC PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PANEL 2, 25 SEPTEMBER 2026

Good afternoon.

1.       It is an honour and a privilege for me to welcome you together with my distinguished Co-Chair, Her Excellency Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia, to the second multi-stakeholder panel of this high-level meeting.

2.       In accordance with General Assembly resolution 79/333, and as indicated in the concept note and letters circulated by the President of the General Assembly dated 20 August and 18 September 2026, this multi-stakeholder panel will focus on “Equitable access through sustainability and predictability: capacities and financing for strengthened pandemic prevention, preparedness and response”.

3.       A summary of our discussion will be presented at the closing segment of the high-level plenary meeting later today.

4.       Allow me first to make a few introductory remarks.

5.       Several years on from the COVID-19 pandemic, the lessons remain fresh. We saw what was possible – rapid genome sequencing, unprecedented vaccine development timelines, and remarkable scientific collaboration across borders. We also saw what fell short – inequitable access to vaccines and therapeutics, surveillance gaps and health systems that buckled under sustained strain.

6.       Since then, there have been various efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness and address vaccine inequity, so that humankind will be better prepared for the next pandemic crisis.

7.       One important plan involves members of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international health community, developing a unifying global framework for preparedness and equitable access. The Pandemic Fund helps finance essential capacities such as surveillance and laboratories particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The WHO Pandemic Agreement is a common framework to facilitate better sharing of pathogen information and provide access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.

8.       But that is not enough. We also need to build sustainable regional manufacturing resilience. Each region must understand its needs and strengthen capabilities across the value chain, from R&D, manufacturing, and supply chains regulation. Scientific advances must translate into timely access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for all. This requires stronger cooperation across the value chain and arrangements that work fairly for both providers and users of biological materials and data. We hope ongoing multilateral negotiations will deliver durable and equitable solutions.

9.       Finally and thirdly, we need to establish a global network connecting surveillance, research, manufacturing and regulation. Today, GISAID facilitates the sharing of genomic data across countries, to enhance surveillance and detect dangerous pathogens early. Together, we can support the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation’s (CEPI) 100-day mission to develop safe, effective and accessible vaccines for initial authorisation and manufacturing at scale when a pandemic threat is identified. Finally, we also need to establish a global network of trusted regulatory authorities so that vaccines can be evaluated, approved and deployed without compromising safety and quality.

10.      If we pursue all these plans together, we will be able to be much more prepared for the next pandemic and to build a safer and more resilient world. I look forward to a productive exchange on how we can build this together.

11.      It is now my pleasure to invite my Co-Chair Her Excellency Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia, to make introductory remarks and introduce the panellists.