Minister for Health Innovation and Safety (Dr ): 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) in the event of a pandemic.
These negotiations are currently ongoing via the World Health
Organization'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 November (3 – 7) and December (1 – 5), and held a
resumed session in January (20 – 22). 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
remains 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.
