WHO Member States Extend Negotiations on Pandemic Agreement Annex

World Health Organization (WHO) Member States have decided to continue negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex related to the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Discussions are set to resume in late April, prior to the anticipated review by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May.

The decision to continue negotiations from April 27 to May 1, with informal intersessional discussions occurring beforehand, demonstrates the commitment of WHO Member States to negotiate the PABS annex, which is a fundamental part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

The World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement last year to address the vulnerabilities revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to enhance global cooperation and equity in preventing, preparing for, and responding to future pandemics.

"The Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system is central to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, and I thank WHO Member States for their commitment to bringing it to fruition,” 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 overcome differences for the common public good, for solidarity, and for equity.”

The PABS annex aims to facilitate the swift sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential on an equal basis, as well as to ensure fair and equitable distribution of the benefits that arise from their use, which includes vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

"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," said IGWG Bureau Co-Chair Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil.

During the past week, Member States engaged in intensive negotiations under the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Discussions covered a range of critical and interlinked issues, including how benefits derived from the sharing of pathogens should be defined and distributed, the nature of contractual arrangements underpinning the PABS system, and governance matters necessary to ensure the system functions effectively, transparently, and in the public interest.

“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,” said IGWG Bureau Co-Chair Mr. Matthew Harpur from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Member States acknowledged the constructive engagement to date, while recognizing that additional time is needed to bridge remaining differences to finalize the text and submit the outcome to the World Health Assembly. They also reaffirmed their commitment to solidarity, multilateralism, and the shared goal of making the world safer and more equitable in the face of future pandemics.