WHO Pandemic Agreement: PABS Negotiations Extended to May

World Health Organization (WHO) Member States have agreed to extend negotiations on a key component of the global pandemic preparedness framework: the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Discussions will resume from April 27th to May 1st, ahead of a scheduled review by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May.

The PABS annex aims to establish a system for the rapid sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and the fair distribution of benefits derived from their use, including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. This extension reflects a commitment from member states to finalize this crucial element of the agreement, which was adopted last year to address shortcomings revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to bolster international cooperation in preventing and responding to future health emergencies.

Agreement Follows Last Year’s Pandemic Agreement Adoption

The WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted by the World Health Assembly on May 20, 2025, marked a historic step in global public health. The agreement’s negotiation process spanned three years, involving governments and stakeholders to create a legally binding international instrument designed to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The PABS annex is considered a core component of this broader agreement.

According to the WHO, the PABS system is intended to operate on an equal footing, ensuring that all nations have access to critical resources during a pandemic. This includes not only the pathogens themselves, but also the resulting medical countermeasures developed using those pathogens.

“The Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system lies at the heart of the WHO Pandemic Agreement and I thank WHO Member States for their commitment to work to bring it to life,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “I urge all delegations to believe in the power of trust – trust in one another, in our institutions, and in our shared ability to transcend differences for the common public good, for solidarity and for equity.”

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Intensive Negotiations Underway

Member States have been engaged in intensive negotiations under the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Discussions have focused on defining and distributing benefits derived from pathogen sharing, establishing appropriate contractual arrangements for the PABS system, and ensuring effective and transparent governance.

Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes, of Brazil, and co-chair of the IGWG, stated that negotiators are “working intensively towards having an ambitious and equitable Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing annex ready for adoption at the World Health Assembly in May.”

“Member State negotiators are working intensively towards having an ambitious and equitable Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing annex ready for adoption at the World Health Assembly in May,”

Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes, IGWG Bureau Co-Chair

Mr. Matthew Harpur, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and also a co-chair of the IGWG, welcomed the commitment shown by Member States to reach a consensus on outstanding areas within the PABS system, noting that the May WHA meeting is less than two months away.

“With less than two months until the World Health Assembly in May, I welcome the commitment shown this week by Member States towards finding consensus on outstanding areas in the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system,”

Mr. Matthew Harpur, IGWG Bureau Co-Chair

Member States acknowledged the progress made thus far but recognized the need for additional time to resolve remaining differences and finalize the text for submission to the World Health Assembly. They reaffirmed their dedication to solidarity, multilateralism, and the shared objective of enhancing global safety and equity in the face of future pandemics.

The PABS annex is intended to address concerns about equitable access to pandemic-related resources, a significant issue highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. By establishing a clear framework for sharing pathogens and benefits, the WHO aims to prevent a repeat of the disparities experienced during the recent global health crisis.