Negotiations for a global pandemic treaty aimed at better handling future health crises have extended into September, as countries remain divided on crucial components of the agreement. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the seventh round of talks concluded without a breakthrough, pushing discussions to the eighth round scheduled for September 14 to 18.
The primary contention revolves around the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, which addresses how pathogens with pandemic potential and their derived benefits, such as vaccines and treatments, should be shared. Wealthy nations and developing countries are at odds over the practical implementation of this system.
The WHO stated that while the treaty was agreed upon in May 2025, the details of its key mechanism were left unresolved to achieve the initial deal. The PABS system was intended to be finalized by May 2026, but progress has been slow, with only incremental advances made during the recent talks.
The latest round of negotiations in Geneva focused on technical aspects, including the contracts, laboratory networks, and the definition of benefits arising from pathogen sharing. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of a rapid and equitable sharing of pathogens and scientific information.
Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil, co-chair of the talks, noted meaningful progress on complex elements of the PABS annex but acknowledged that significant challenges remain. Countries can only begin ratifying the treaty once the PABS annex is completed, highlighting the urgency and complexity of the ongoing discussions.