World Health Organization (WHO) member states this week advanced their negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System (PABS) at a follow-up session of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement. The PABS system is a key element of the agreement approved by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2025.
During the session held on 20–22 January 2026, Member States continued text-based negotiations on outstanding issues in the draft annex and exchanged views with the aim of narrowing differences and identifying areas of convergence.
“I am encouraged by the progress we have made in several areas, with signs of emerging consensus on some parts of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system,” said IGWG Bureau Co-Chair Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes of Brazil. “As we look forward to the fifth session, the focus will be on outstanding, complex issues. The continued session has helped us gain a clearer picture of where we stand.”
The IGWG, which was established by the WHA, has as a priority the drafting and negotiation of the PABS system, which aims to enable the safe, transparent and responsible exchange of pandemic-potential pathogens and their genetic sequence information, alongside the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use, including vaccines and diagnostics.
The continuation of the session took place following a request by member states to extend the fourth meeting of the IGWG, which was convened in December 2025.
“Member States have engaged in constructive discussions this week,” said IGWG Bureau Co-Chair Matthew Harpur from the United Kingdom. “As we make progress towards the May deadline, I am encouraged by their willingness to work together and bridge differences to deliver an effective system of pathogen access and benefit sharing.”
Further meetings of the IGWG are planned in the coming months as member states continue their negotiations.
A robust pathogen access and benefit sharing system will be the cornerstone of a safer and more just world. I thank the countries for their commitment to multilateral solutions.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
The outcome of the IGWG’s work will be submitted to the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in May 2026 for consideration.
