An additional week of negotiations to finalize an international agreement on how to deal with future pandemics began in Geneva on Monday, while deep differences between countries continue to block an agreement.
Rich and developing countries remain divided in negotiations within the World Health Organization (WHO) over how to implement the pandemic agreement adopted last year.
The agreement includes a system called PABS (Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing), which regulates access to and benefit-sharing from pathogens with pandemic potential, including vaccines, tests and therapies.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the world must not miss this opportunity to better prepare for the next pandemic, stressing that the agreement will not be perfect, but must be functional and fair.
In May 2025, WHO members adopted a framework agreement on future health crises after more than three years of negotiations, triggered by the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of the agreement is to prevent a repeat of the uncoordinated global response from the time of the coronavirus through better coordination, surveillance and access to vaccines.
However, a key part of the agreement – the PABS – was left for subsequent negotiations to reach a basic agreement.
Representatives of developing countries express mistrust, fearing that they could share virus samples without guarantees of equal access to vaccines in the event of a new crisis.
On the other hand, part of the developed countries and the pharmaceutical industry express concern about investment and return on investment.
The talks last until Friday, with a view to reaching an agreement before the meeting of the World Health Assembly starting on May 18.
Progress is slow, and diplomatic sources state that compromises are difficult, although the European Union is showing some flexibility.
Civil society organizations warn that unclear rules could lead to a situation where genetic materials from developing countries would be used and commercialized without adequate benefit for those countries.
There are also disagreements about access to data and systems for monitoring the use of pathogens, with some developed countries advocating anonymous access, while developing countries and numerous non-governmental organizations seek stricter control and transparency.
(Vijesti.ba)
