WHO Member States Extend Talks on Pandemic Pathogen Sharing Framework.
Geneva:
Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed to extend negotiations on the crucial Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex under the WHO Pandemic Agreement, acknowledging that additional time is required to finalize the framework aimed at ensuring a more equitable global response to future pandemics.
The decision came at the conclusion of the resumed sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement held in Geneva. The discussions primarily focused on the proposed PABS system, considered one of the most critical components of the broader pandemic accord.
The outcome of the negotiations will now be presented to the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month. Given that several technical and legal issues remain unresolved, Member States are expected to request the Assembly to continue the mandate of the IGWG under Resolution WHA78.1 and submit a finalized outcome either to the next World Health Assembly in May 2027 or earlier through a special WHA session in 2026.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said substantial progress had been achieved during the negotiations and expressed confidence that consensus could be reached through continued dialogue.
“Real progress was made on the PABS annex and I am confident through continued negotiations differences will be overcome,” he said. Stressing the urgency of the issue, Dr Tedros warned that future pandemics were inevitable and emphasized that the PABS annex remained the “last piece of the puzzle” in strengthening global pandemic preparedness following the lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis.
The proposed PABS system seeks to establish a mechanism for the rapid sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential while ensuring fair and equitable distribution of benefits derived from their use, including vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. WHO officials believe finalizing the annex is essential before countries can move forward with signing and ratifying the Pandemic Agreement.
IGWG Bureau Co-Chair Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes said negotiations involved significant legal and technical complexities that required careful consideration.
“Finalizing a document of such technical and legal complexity requires precision and dedication, both of which the Member States have demonstrated in full,” he said, adding that the extension of negotiations would help bridge remaining differences.
IGWG Co-Chair Matthew Harpur said Member States had shown strong commitment to establishing a robust and equitable framework for pandemic preparedness.
“The IGWG Bureau is confident we are moving in the right direction to finalize the PABS annex, and in doing so provide the WHO Pandemic Agreement with the framework needed to ensure countries are better, and more equitably, prepared and protected for the next pandemic,” he said.
The seventh meeting of the IGWG is scheduled to take place from July 6 to 17, 2026.
In May 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement with the objective of strengthening global coordination in preventing, preparing for and responding to future pandemics. The Assembly also established the open-ended IGWG to draft and negotiate the PABS framework and other key mechanisms under the agreement.
