World ‘unprepared’ for next pandemic as countries fail to agree on sharing information, tests and vaccines – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: upload.wikimedia.org)
Geneva — Negotiators wrapped up a tense week of talks at World Health Organization headquarters without securing the final piece of a landmark pandemic accord. The failure to agree on rules for sharing dangerous pathogens and the benefits derived from them has left the world exposed to future outbreaks. Experts warn that this impasse underscores persistent divisions in global health governance, echoing lessons unlearned from COVID-19.[1][2]
Understanding the Pathogen Access Impasse
The heart of the dispute lies in the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, a mechanism designed to balance rapid pathogen data exchange with equitable distribution of resulting medical countermeasures. Countries that detect and share samples of viruses or bacteria with pandemic potential would gain assured access to vaccines, tests, and treatments developed from them. This system aims to prevent the inequities seen during COVID-19, when wealthier nations secured early supplies while others waited.[3]
Developing nations, through groups like the Africa Group and Group for Equity, pushed for a mandatory standard contract binding pharmaceutical firms to share products. European countries countered that such requirements might hinder research and development, proposing instead a hybrid approach blending obligatory and voluntary commitments. Disagreements also persisted over access to genetic sequences and vaccine equity beyond declared pandemics, alongside debates on industry financial contributions.[1][4]
From COVID Lessons to Prolonged Negotiations
World leaders first called for a pandemic treaty in March 2021, spurred by the chaotic global response to COVID-19. An independent panel, co-chaired by former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, reviewed that response and urged a binding accord to save millions of lives through better coordination. Their 2021 report highlighted preventable failures in surveillance and supply chains.[1]
Progress accelerated in May 2025, when the World Health Assembly adopted the core Pandemic Agreement after over three years of deliberations. This legally binding instrument covers surveillance, health system strengthening, research coordination, and sustainable financing, all while respecting national sovereignty. Yet negotiators deferred the contentious PABS to an annex, stalling signatures and ratifications until its completion—30 days after 60 countries ratify the full package.[3][2]
Mistrust between richer and poorer states, fueled partly by online disinformation claiming the treaty erodes sovereignty, further complicated matters. The latest round, from April 27 to May 1, 2026, marked the resumed sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG), but yielded only partial advances amid grinding debates.[1]
Expert Warnings Echo Unresolved Risks
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged gains but emphasized urgency: “Real progress was made on the PABS annex and I am confident through continued negotiations differences will be overcome.” He added, “Member States should continue approaching the outstanding issues with a sense of urgency because the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if.”[2]
Johnson Sirleaf and Clark deemed the missed deadline “deeply regrettable,” stating, “If a new pathogen emerged today, the world remains largely unprepared for it. A lack of action to prevent and prepare for the next pandemic threat is a disservice to humanity.” IGWG co-chairs expressed optimism, with Brazil’s Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes noting the technical complexity demands precision.[1][4]
Key Sticking Points in PABS Talks
- Mandatory vs. voluntary benefit-sharing contracts with pharma
- Access to pathogen genetic sequences
- Vaccine equity guarantees outside pandemics
- Pharmaceutical financial contributions
Charting the Path Forward
The IGWG plans its seventh meeting from July 6 to 17, 2026, with results heading to the 79th World Health Assembly later in May. There, members will weigh extending talks per Resolution WHA78.1, targeting completion by May 2027 or a 2026 special session. Only then can the agreement open for signatures, paving the way for ratification and a Conference of the Parties to oversee implementation.[2]
Supporters view the 2025 accord as a public health victory amid geopolitical fractures, including U.S. WHO withdrawal threats. Yet the PABS delay tests global solidarity. As Dr. Tedros framed it, this annex completes “the last piece of the puzzle” from COVID lessons, urging nations to bridge divides before the next threat materializes.[5]
With pathogens evolving unchecked, the coming months will reveal whether compromise prevails over caution. The stakes extend beyond borders, demanding equity to shield all humanity from inevitable outbreaks.