Pandemic Agreement: Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing System
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Dr Zubir Ahmed)
I would like to update the House regarding the follow-up negotiations to the pandemic agreement to develop and agree a new pathogen access and benefit sharing (PABS) system in the form of an annex to the agreement.
The PABS system will be a new, voluntary system for life sciences companies to sign up to in order to gain faster access, with less red tape, to the pathogens they need to create new vaccines, treatments and diagnostics (VTDs) for in the event of a pandemic. These negotiations are currently ongoing via the World Health Organisation’s member state-led intergovernmental working group (IGWG), which was established to facilitate this process.
Since my last update to the House on 22 October 2025, the IGWG has convened in from 3 to 7 November and from 1 to 5 December and held a resumed session from 20 to 22 January. So far, technical discussions have centred around the scope of pathogen materials and sequence information covered by the PABS system; how they will be shared through laboratory networks and databases to ensure timely access; benefit sharing provisions for manufacturers who sign up to the system; the links between PABS and other international access and benefit sharing frameworks; the links between domestic access and benefit sharing legislation and the PABS system; and provisions regarding traceability and open access to data.
The most recent round of negotiations saw some progress made on issues including the use of terms for the PABS system, but differences remain on a range of issues. The UK Government remain committed to continuing work with other member states to find consensus and to deliver an effective, implementable, and equitable PABS system.
Member states have agreed to report on the outcome of negotiations by the next World Health Assembly in May 2026. Only once the negotiations on the PABS annex have concluded, and the annex has been adopted by the WHA, will the pandemic agreement, including the PABS annex, be open for signature and ratification by member states.
Two further negotiating weeks are scheduled for 9-13 February and 23-27 March and I will update the House further as negotiations continue.
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