National Statement by Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed at the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR). 25 September, New York.
- Check against delivery -
Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,
Sweden aligns itself with the statement made by the EU, and its Member States.
Three years ago, many of us gathered here with memories that were still raw – of loss, of disruption, and of how quickly a health crisis can reshape every corner of our societies.
We made a commitment: to learn, to act, and to leave the world better prepared for what may come next. Not only for ourselves – but for the generations that will follow.
There is real progress to recognise. The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement in 2025 was a genuine milestone. The revised International Health Regulations are in force. These are foundations worth building on.
And yet, experience also tells us something more sobering. Political attention tends to recede once the immediate crisis has passed. Preparedness quietly slides down the list of priorities.
The theme of this meeting – a multilateral and intergenerational approach, grounded in equity and solidarity – is a reminder that this work does not have a finishing line.
This year, the Swedish government submitted a legislative proposal to strengthen Sweden's national pandemic preparedness – translating our commitments from 2023 into domestic law. We believe pandemic preparedness requires a whole-of-government approach.
It should be built into health policy, economic planning and broader preparedness efforts alike. We also believe that preparedness is only as strong as its weakest link. Equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments is not only a matter of fairness – it is the logic of collective security.
A world where some are protected and others are not - is a world that remains vulnerable for all.
We also need a global health architecture that is coherent, coordinated and capable of delivering where it matters most. Reducing fragmentation and strengthening cooperation across institutions will be essential if we are to respond effectively to future health emergencies.
Sustaining the multilateral system that makes coordinated action possible – a reformed WHO, effective international health regulations, and a One Health approach that connects human, animal and environmental health – is part of that same responsibility.
Sweden remains committed to this work, and we hope today’s meeting can be a moment of renewed shared resolve.
Thank you.
