Civil society organizations have expressed concerns that the World Health Assembly may not finalize the remaining annex of the Pandemic Agreement, particularly the pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) system. Discussions are ongoing at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, where member states are working to resolve key differences before the scheduled conclusion of negotiations.
The PABS system is a central component of the agreement, aimed at governing how countries share pathogen data and how benefits such as vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics are distributed. However, disagreements persist over the structure of this system, with debates focusing on a proposed “hybrid” model that combines mandatory and voluntary elements for sharing information and benefits.
According to civil society representatives, the hybrid approach could weaken the effectiveness and fairness of the system. Critics argue that allowing countries to set individual conditions for sharing pathogen data may lead to fragmented processes, reducing efficiency and undermining global cooperation. Concerns have also been raised that such a model could dilute established international norms on equitable benefit-sharing.
Different positions among countries have further complicated negotiations. While some nations appear open to compromise solutions, others, including regional blocs, have expressed opposition to the hybrid proposal. This divergence reflects broader tensions between ensuring rapid access to critical health data and maintaining fairness in how resulting medical innovations are shared.
The ongoing negotiations highlight the complexity of balancing global health security with equity. Although there remains a willingness among stakeholders to reach consensus, significant gaps remain. As a result, the finalization of the PABS system—and the broader Pandemic Agreement—may require further negotiations beyond the current timeline.
