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2026-05-06 23:21:56 UTC

Stella Maris on Nostr: WHO delays pandemic treaty amid pathogen-sharing dispute Known as the Pathogen Access ...

WHO delays pandemic treaty amid pathogen-sharing dispute

Known as the Pathogen Access and ⁠Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex, it governs how countries share data and ​samples of pathogens that pose public health risks and seeks ​to ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatments.
Without agreement on PABS, the pandemic accord, which is intended to help the world respond more ​effectively to future pandemics in the wake of COVID-19, ​cannot come into effect.
The World Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement in ‌May ⁠2025 to strengthen global prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemics.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said progress had been made but urged countries to keep working with urgency, saying ​the next ​pandemic was "a matter ⁠of when, not if."
The outcome will be presented to the World Health Assembly later ​in May.
The assembly will be asked to allow ​negotiations ⁠to continue, with any agreement to be submitted to the next assembly in May 2027 or earlier at a special ⁠session ​in 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/who-delays-pandemic-treaty-amid-pathogen-sharing-dispute-2026-05-01/