Global Health Law: Pandemic Resilience through a Rules-Based International Health Cooperation?

Global health law seeks to empower individuals and communities; however, the field largely operates according to a charity-based approach. The COVID-19 pandemic and the announced withdrawal of the United States from the WHO highlighted existing tensions, amplifying skepticism toward international health cooperation. This essay analyzes opportunities for global health law to transition to a self-reliance model by examining the revised International Health Regulations and the new Pandemic Agreement. The essay considers whether and how these amended and new instruments could advance a rights-based, resilience model of international health cooperation.