WHO Members Continue Negotiations on Pandemic Pathogen-Sharing System

GENEVA — World Health Organization member states have made further progress in negotiations on a global system intended to improve the sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and ensure fairer access to the medical products developed from them.

The proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex is a central component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The system is intended to support rapid access to pathogen samples and genetic-sequence information while ensuring that benefits—including vaccines, diagnostic tests and treatments—are shared fairly and equitably.

The seventh meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Pandemic Agreement concluded in Geneva after two weeks of discussions. Countries streamlined parts of the draft text but agreed that further negotiations would be required before the annex could be completed.

The discussions focused on contractual arrangements supporting the system, the organisation of laboratory networks that would handle pathogens and sequence information, and the definition of benefits arising from the use of shared materials.

The issue became particularly important after the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists shared genetic information rapidly, allowing vaccines and diagnostic tests to be developed, but access to those products varied significantly between wealthy and lower-income countries.

Supporters of the PABS system argue that countries supplying pathogen samples and scientific data should receive fair access to vaccines, treatments and other benefits that may be produced from those contributions.

However, negotiations must balance several difficult issues, including scientific speed, national sovereignty, intellectual-property rights, commercial manufacturing, laboratory security and public-health need.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said differences remain but urged countries to maintain their focus on a system in which pathogens and scientific information are shared quickly and the resulting benefits are distributed fairly.

Finalising the annex is necessary before countries can consider signing and ratifying the complete WHO Pandemic Agreement. The agreement itself was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2025 to strengthen international cooperation in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The next meeting of the working group is scheduled for 14 to 18 September 2026. Until negotiations are completed, the proposed PABS system is not final or legally binding.

The continued discussions demonstrate broad support for international cooperation, but the unresolved questions show how difficult it is to balance rapid scientific collaboration with equitable access and national interests.