WHO member states extend negotiations on pandemic pathogen benefit-sharing annex
The Story
Member States of the World Health Organization concluded the resumed session of the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement in Geneva, focused on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex. They agreed that additional time was needed to finalize the framework for ensuring a more equitable response to future pandemics. The outcome will be presented to the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly later this month, which will be asked to consider continuing the working group’s work and submit the outcome to the next assembly in May 2027 or earlier.
Key Facts
- Member States of the WHO agreed that more time was needed to finalize the PABS annex, a key part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
- The resumed session of the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) in Geneva ended focused on the PABS system.
- The outcome will be presented to the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA) later this month.
- The Assembly will be asked to consider continuing the IGWG’s work as mandated in Resolution WHA78.1 and submit the outcome to the next Assembly in May 2027, or earlier by a special session of WHA in 2026.
- The PABS system is intended to ensure rapid sharing of pathogens with pandemic potential and fair and equitable sharing of benefits such as vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Finalizing the PABS Annex is necessary for countries to proceed with signature and ratification of the Pandemic Agreement.
- The IGWG will hold its seventh meeting from 6 to 17 July 2026.
- In May 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement to strengthen how countries prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics, and established the IGWG to draft and negotiate the PABS system.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
- Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil, IGWG Bureau Co-Chair
- Mr Matthew Harpur, IGWG Co-Chair
