STATEMENT: The future of the world's first Pandemic Agreement hangs in the balance. Governments have one final round of negotiations to conclude the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex before the World Health Assembly in May. Without this annex, the Agreement cannot move to the ratification stage, and the promise of a fairer global framework against future pandemics could founder after years of negotiation. Governments have both a responsibility and a public health imperative to rise to this moment and seal a deal.

Six years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep gaps and inequities in global health security. Countries of all incomes shared crucial pathogen data, but the resulting vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics either arrived too late or were priced out of reach for many. 

The PABS system was conceived to correct this injustice. Any country left without access to lifesaving countermeasures makes us all less safe.

We urge governments to deliver a PABS Annex that is equitable and operational from day one. Both access and benefit-sharing obligations must be predictable and guaranteed, not left to goodwill or last-minute negotiations once a crisis has hit. Without binding arrangements, countries with the least bargaining power will be left without access again. The system should also include firm commitments which generate trust and incentivise broad participation.

Member States should be flexible to include additional negotiating days if needed to reach consensus by the current deadline.

Commitments already reached in the Pandemic Agreement should be upheld and not reopened or diluted. Transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance – with full and meaningful participation of affected communities and civil society – are important for long term success. Countries should commit to sustainably financing the PABS system – not just when a crisis hits, but long before one begins.

Finally, the multilateral architecture for pandemic preparedness and response must be protected as a collective endeavour. Bilateral arrangements are not a substitute for a shared mechanism supported by all countries which can be counted on in an emergency.

The time for action is now. We call on negotiators to work even harder to find common ground, and to deliver a robust and durable PABS system. This is essential to ensure that when the next pandemic threat strikes, the world will be ready to respond faster and more equitably than it did before.

ENDS

Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair of The Elders 

Graça Machel, Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, Co-founder and Deputy Chair of The Elders  

Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director-General of the WHO 

Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the UN Development Programme 

Elbegdorj Tsakhia, former President and Prime Minister of Mongolia 

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Hina Jilani, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and co-chair of the Taskforce on Justice 

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Laureate 

Denis Mukwege, physician and human rights advocate, Nobel Peace Laureate 

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico 

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