Countries Advance Negotiations to Strengthen WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Geneva:
Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have made further progress in negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, a central pillar of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, during a resumed session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) held from 20 to 22 January 2026.
The negotiations focused on outstanding elements of the draft annex on the PABS system, which aims to ensure the safe, transparent and accountable sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and their genetic sequence information, alongside the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use, including vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. The PABS system is a core component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2025.
During the three-day session, Member States engaged in text-based negotiations and exchanged views to narrow differences and identify areas of convergence. The discussions reflected growing momentum toward consensus on several key aspects of the system.
“I am encouraged by the progress we have made in several areas, with signs of emerging consensus for some parts of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system,” said Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil, IGWG Bureau co-chair. “As we look ahead to the fifth session, the focus will be on the outstanding, complex issues. The resumed session has helped us gain a clearer picture of where we stand.”
The IGWG was established by the WHA with a mandate to prioritize the drafting and negotiation of the PABS system, recognizing its critical role in strengthening global pandemic preparedness and response. The resumed session was convened following a request by Member States to extend the fourth meeting of the IGWG, which initially took place in December 2025.
Co-chair Matthew Harpur of the United Kingdom welcomed the constructive tone of the discussions and reaffirmed the collective commitment to meeting agreed timelines. “Member States have engaged in constructive discussions this week. As we make progress towards the May deadline, I am encouraged by their willingness to work together and bridge differences to deliver an effective Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system,” he said.
Further meetings of the IGWG are scheduled in the coming months as negotiations continue, with the aim of finalizing the PABS system in advance of the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in May 2026, where the outcome of the group’s work will be submitted for consideration.
Highlighting the broader significance of the negotiations, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “A strong Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system will be a cornerstone of a safer and more equitable world. I thank countries for their commitment to multilateral solutions.”
As discussions continue, WHO and its Member States have reiterated that a robust and equitable PABS system is essential to ensuring timely access to critical health tools during future pandemics, while promoting global solidarity and shared responsibility.
