WHO delays PABS talks
WHO Member States agreed to extend negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex to the Pandemic Agreement, moving talks into late April ahead of the World Health Assembly in May — the decision keeps alive a key framework for how pathogen samples and resulting benefits get shared in future outbreaks. The extension means negotiators have one more round to bridge disputes that will affect equitable access to medical innovations. (who.int)
WHO scheduled the resumed Intergovernmental Working Group session for 27 April–1 May, with informal intersessional discussions to take place in advance. (publicnow.com)) WHO Director‑General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus publicly thanked Member States for their commitment and urged delegations to build trust during the talks. (publicnow.com)) IGWG Bureau Co‑Chairs named in WHO statements are Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil and Matthew Harpur of the United Kingdom, who both called for intensive negotiations ahead of the World Health Assembly. (publicnow.com)) WHO’s summary of the meetings says negotiators left unresolved technical questions on how benefits should be defined and distributed, the form of contractual arrangements underpinning PABS, and governance mechanisms. (publicnow.com)) Several developing‑country blocs formally rejected the IGWG Bureau’s draft text as an inadequate basis for negotiations, raising demands for stronger equity and sovereignty protections. (twn.my)) Under WHO rules the Pandemic Agreement cannot be opened for signature until the PABS annex is adopted at the World Health Assembly, keeping signature and ratification timelines contingent on the late‑April session’s outcome. (twn.my)) The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) submitted a statement to IGWG6 and participated in the March discussions, signaling direct industry engagement in rule‑making that will affect R&D access to samples. (ifpma.org)) Policy analysts warned that unresolved PABS wording — especially on digital sequence information and benefit‑sharing obligations — could create overlapping legal duties across instruments and complicate licensing and development of diagnostics and vaccines. (thinkglobalhealth.org))
