Malaysia and the World Health Organization have renewed their pledge to finalise the global pandemic agreement by May 2027. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad put the timeline on record at an appearance in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 20. The accord would lay out shared rules for how countries detect and respond when a dangerous outbreak threatens to spread worldwide. Negotiations on the text have dragged on since COVID-19 exposed glaring gaps in vaccine distribution and information sharing between rich and poor nations. A first attempt to adopt the agreement at the World Health Assembly in 2024 fell short, and negotiators now face another round with firm dates attached. Dzulkefly's position suggests Malaysia wants the treaty locked in rather than left to drift. The May 2027 target gives the process a clear runway, though getting every member state to sign will be another matter entirely.