health
World ‘unprepared’ for next pandemic as countries fail to agree on sharing information, tests and vaccines
Finalisation of pact governing global response to disease outbreaks delayed as talks on how to share benefits stall
TL;DR
- A deadline to finalize a global pandemic treaty was missed by negotiators.
- The treaty aims to govern how countries share information on pathogens and access resulting vaccines, tests, and treatments.
- Disagreements between developed and developing countries over 'pathogen access and benefit sharing' (Pabs) are a major hurdle.
- Former leaders and the WHO director general warn of continued global unpreparedness for the next pandemic.
- The pandemic agreement was passed in May 2025, but the Pabs system was deferred to an annex for further negotiation.
- The new deadline for agreeing on the Pabs system is suggested as the 2027 World Health Assembly.