The Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex is the key unfinished part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. It creates a system for countries to rapidly share pathogens and genetic sequence data with global researchers, enabling faster development of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. In return, it sets rules to ensure countries—especially lower-income countires—receive fair access to those resulting medical products. In essence, it is a “share samples, share benefits” deal designed to fix the inequities seen during COVID-19.
At the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79) in May 2026, Member States must finalize and formally adopt the annex. This requires agreement on contentious issues like how benefits will be allocated, whether commitments are binding, and how the system will be governed. The annex must be adopted before the Pandemic Agreement can open for signature and ratification, meaning the entire treaty depends on this step.
PABS is a crucial component because it determines whether the agreement will function in practice. Without it, there is no reliable mechanism for either pathogen sharing or equitable access to countermeasures. It is also the most politically sensitive element, reflecting a divide between countries seeking guaranteed access and those favoring flexibility. Ultimately, its adoption will decide whether the treaty delivers a fairer global response in future pandemics.
