Countries Push Forward on Key Annex to Pandemic Agreement

Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening global pandemic preparedness, concluding a weeklong round of negotiations on a crucial annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

The talks focused on the draft annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS), a central pillar of the broader agreement adopted last year. The fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG), established by the World Health Assembly to negotiate the annex, wrapped up over the weekend after what delegates described as productive discussions.

At the heart of the negotiations is a shared understanding: rapid detection and transparent sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential are essential to mounting an effective global response. Swift access to pathogen samples and their genetic sequence information allows scientists to accelerate the development of diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines — tools that can save millions of lives during health emergencies.

The proposed PABS system aims to ensure that while pathogen materials and genetic data are shared quickly and transparently, the benefits arising from their use, including medical countermeasures, are also distributed fairly and equitably, based on public health needs.

“Countries this week have again shown their steadfast commitment to getting the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex done,” said Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil, co-chair of the IGWG Bureau. He noted that delegates now have a clearer pathway to streamline the draft text, while allowing more contentious issues to undergo further consultation.

His co-chair, Matthew Harpur of the United Kingdom, acknowledged that differences remain but stressed the urgency of reaching consensus. “With time running short, the coming weeks will be critical in bridging the remaining gaps and delivering a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex that is fair, effective and fit for purpose,” he said.

Negotiations are set to resume next month as countries work toward a May deadline, when the outcome will be presented to the World Health Assembly for consideration.

The WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted by Member States last year, was crafted in response to the global weaknesses exposed by the COVID-19 crisis. Designed as a legally binding international instrument, the agreement seeks to strengthen coordination, improve transparency and promote equity in future pandemic responses.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, praised the steady progress made during the latest round of talks. He described last year’s adoption of the Pandemic Agreement as a milestone in global cooperation and urged countries to maintain that momentum.

“Strong multilateralism remains essential as countries have to face future pandemics together, collectively,” he said, expressing confidence that Member States would finalize the PABS annex in time for the May assembly.

Beyond government delegations, the week’s discussions also included engagement with stakeholders from the private sector, academia, laboratories and genetic sequence information databases, a sign of the broad collaboration required to build a more resilient global health system.

As negotiations enter their final stretch, the success of the PABS annex may prove pivotal in determining whether the world is better prepared, and more equitable, when the next pandemic strikes.