Unions through PSI are shaping the WHO negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing as an annex to the global Pandemic Agreement.

What is PABS?

The WHO’s Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system will make sure countries share vaccine formulas,  treatments, data and knowledge globally - but only if we fight back the lobbyists who want to make it weak.

The COVID pandemic exposed the risks of inadequate international cooperation: millions of people die while pharma corporations monopolize medical patents just to protect their profits.

That’s why we are bringing the voice of health workers to the WHO, to shape negotiations on PABS. We're demanding binding commitments on sharing treatments and beneficial know-how, technology transfer mechanisms and reduced restrictions on production. 

This will mean that frontline workers are better protected and equipped to save lives when (not if) the next global health emergency strikes.

Our efforts have already had positive impacts - many government delegations are raising our issues and there is still a chance for more wins. That's why we are calling on unions to engage with your government (Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Check out our technical position paper for more info.

About the ongoing talks

The fifth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement will be conducted in hybrid format on 9–14 February 2026, from 09:00–13:00, 14:00–16:30 and 17:00–19:30.

In May 2025, the World Health Assembly adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement under Article 19 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Through resolution WHA78.1, the Health Assembly established an open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) to undertake several tasks, including, as a priority, drafting and negotiating an annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system.