The World Health Organization (WHO) Member States have concluded the eighth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, making progress on a proposed pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system. The five-day meeting in Geneva brought together governments and stakeholders to discuss the PABS annex, a central component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025. The PABS system aims to facilitate the rapid sharing of materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential.
The PABS annex focuses on creating an equitable, feasible, and implementable system for sharing benefits from pathogens with pandemic potential. This includes the rapid and timely sharing of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics developed from the use of these pathogens. The meeting took place as governments prepare for the Second United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response on 25 September 2026 in New York. The high-level meeting will bring together heads of state and government to reinforce political commitment to fighting future pandemics.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of finalizing the PABS annex, stating that it is essential for strengthening the world's collective defenses against future pandemic threats. He noted that the progress made brings countries closer to keeping their promise to not leave the world vulnerable to future pandemics. The political declaration to be tabled at the UN General Assembly meeting calls for the timely completion of the PABS annex.
Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil, co-Chairperson of the IGWG Bureau, expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved, stating that it provides a strong direction for the weeks ahead. He emphasized that finalizing the PABS annex will pave the way for countries to sign and consider ratification of the Pandemic Agreement, strengthening global coordination and capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics.
During the meeting, Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari, Undersecretary for Planning and Health Regulation at the Ministry of Health of Oman, was elected as a Vice-Chair of the IGWG. He joins fellow Vice-Chairs Ambassador Vuyile Dlamini of the Kingdom of Eswatini and Dr Viroj Tangcharoensathien of the Kingdom of Thailand. The IGWG will continue negotiations on the PABS annex, with the goal of finalizing it in the coming weeks.
The PABS system is a critical component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which aims to strengthen global coordination and capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. The system will facilitate the rapid sharing of materials and sequence information from pathogens with pandemic potential, as well as the benefits derived from their use. This includes vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics developed from the use of these pathogens.
The progress made by WHO Member States on the PABS annex is seen as a crucial step towards finalizing the Pandemic Agreement. The agreement will strengthen global coordination and capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics. Key points include:
Key points
- WHO Member States have made progress on a proposed pathogen access and benefit-sharing system.
- The PABS annex is a central component of the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
- Finalizing the PABS annex will pave the way for countries to sign and consider ratification of the Pandemic Agreement.
