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PAHO and the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG)

About IGWG Global Meetings Regional Meetings WHA79 PAHO & INB Pandemic Agreement

 

 

After the historic adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by the 78th World Health Assembly in May 2025, the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) was established to draft and negotiate the Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) System described in Article 12 of the Agreement. Importantly, this Annex is integral to the Agreement which will be open for signature only after adoption of the Annex.

Since July 2025, the IGWG has met in formal and informal sessions to negotiate the Annex on the PABS System. The 79th World Health Assembly in May 2026 agreed that the IGWG will continue its work and submit the outcome to the 80th World Health Assembly (or to an earlier special session of the World Health Assembly). 

WHA 79 and the PABS Annex

During the 79th World Health Assembly, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) have progressed work on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex, a key part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, and agreed additional time was needed to finalize the framework for ensuring a better, more equitable, response to future pandemics.

Report by the Director-General DECISION WHA 79 PABS ANNEX

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27 April – 1 May 2026

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23–28 March 2026

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9–14 February 2026

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20–22 January 2026

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1–5 December 2025

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3–7 November 2025

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15–19 September 2025

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9–10 July 2025
PAHO Support to Member States

As during the negotiations prior to the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement, PAHO has accompanied and will continue accompanying Member States in the negotiations of the PABS Annex including through the facilitation of regional meetings and briefings to ensure that national authorities are informed about the key components of the Annex and can participate actively in the IGWG negotiations.

Regional Meetings

July 2025

This regional briefing session provided Member States with an overview of regional initiatives relevant to the PABS Annex negotiations and facilitated the exchange of information on capacities and mechanisms that could support the future implementation of the PABS System in the Americas.

Discussion Topics

Regional initiatives related to the PABS Annex of the Pandemic Agreement.

  • Epidemic intelligence, early warning, and pathogen information sharing in the Americas.
  • Regional laboratory networks, genomic surveillance, and diagnostic capacities.
  • Procurement, logistics, and equitable access to vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other pandemic-related health products.
  • The role of PAHO Regional Revolving Funds in supporting equitable access during health emergencies.

Resources:

PAHO Epidemic Intelligence site
PAHO Revolving Funds
Regional Laboratory Networks
IHR (2005)

5 September 2025

This information session supported Member States' understanding of key concepts related to the PABS System and explored existing international frameworks, lessons learned, and regional considerations relevant to the development of the PABS Annex.

Discussion Points

  • Key concepts related to the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System.
  • Existing access and benefit-sharing mechanisms and lessons learned.
  • International frameworks and agreements relevant to pathogen access and benefit-sharing.
  • National capacities relevant to the implementation of the PABS System.
  • Next steps in the development of the PABS Annex.

Resources

PABS System

PAHO’s work on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing

The regional laboratory networks coordinated by PAHO  – RELDA, PAHOGen, SARInet, RELAVRA+, PulseNet Latin America and the Caribbean – are key for health security in the Region and have played an essential role in preparing for and responding to epidemics and pandemics in the Americas. Access to pathogens (materials and sequence information) and their exchange within regional networks contributes to pathogen characterization for public health decision-making and the development of medical countermeasures (diagnostic tests, vaccines, and medicines). Benefits for Member States include the sharing of updated diagnostic protocols, the provision of technical assistance to national laboratories and, as appropriate, to subnational laboratory networks for the implementation of these diagnostic protocols, and the acquisition and equitable distribution by PAHO of key materials, reagents, and equipment to public health laboratories.

The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework ensures both access to influenza viruses and sharing of material and non-material benefits with Member States. The PIP framework includes monetary contributions from manufacturers of medical countermeasures that support the operations of GISRS (Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System) and its regional arm, SARInet. PAHO actively collaborates with National Influenza Centers to strengthen surveillance and response to influenza.