Monday 09 / November / 2026
Muscat: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the election of the Sultanate of Oman to the position of Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, represented by Dr. Ahmed Salim Al Mandhari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Planning and Health Regulation.
This comes within the framework of Oman’s active participation in the work of the World Health Organization and its contributions to international efforts aimed at developing the pandemic preparedness and response system.
The election of the Sultanate of Oman comes in light of the expertise of the Undersecretary in the fields of health governance, health regulation, and international health cooperation, alongside his participation in the work of the World Health Organization.
This election represents the Eastern Mediterranean Region in the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Working Group, and contributes to continuing the working group's efforts and negotiations related to drafting the annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Planning and Health Regulation is participating in the proceedings of the ninth meeting of the group, held at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva from 9-13 November, assuming the duties and responsibilities associated with the position of Vice-Chair of the Bureau and participating in relevant meetings and discussions.
The Sultanate of Oman had affirmed its support for the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and commended the efforts made by the organization and member states to reach international consensus on it, during its participation in the proceedings of the 79th World Health Assembly held in Geneva in May 2026.
It is worth noting that the Intergovernmental Working Group is a subsidiary body established by WHO member states to continue work on the organization's pandemic agreement, which was adopted in May 2025 with the objective of strengthening pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response globally.
The group serves as a platform for member states to collaborate on drafting the operational details of the agreement, contributing to the preparation of a legally binding international framework aimed at making the world safer and more equitable in facing future pandemics.
