Over the course of two years, WHO's 194 member states have negotiated a binding framework for international prevention, preparedness and response to pandemics.

WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Source: AFP)

The effort was spurred after the Covid-19 pandemic claimed millions of lives, devastated economies and crippled health systems around the world.

The WHO had initially aimed to reach a deal this week, but talks have dragged on amid deep divisions between rich and poor countries on issues such as vaccine sharing and response measures.

However, countries have reached consensus on a revised International Health Regulations (IHR), which aims to update existing health rules to be legally binding.

In a statement, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The historic decisions taken today demonstrate the shared desire of Member States to protect people from common risk in public health emergencies and future pandemics.”

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra stressed that with this agreement, measures will be implemented to hold countries accountable and strengthen measures to prevent disease outbreaks before they threaten people and world security.

The changes to global health rules are aimed at boosting the world's defenses against new pathogens after the Covid-19 pandemic claimed more than 7 million lives, according to WHO data.