Efforts to finalise a global pandemic accord are entering a critical phase, with negotiators racing to resolve differences over how countries share pathogens and the benefits derived from them before the May deadline.
The agreement, adopted in 2025 under the World Health Organization, cannot be opened for signature until a key annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing is completed. The annex is intended to govern how biological samples and genetic sequence data are shared, as well as the distribution of vaccines, treatments, and other countermeasures developed from them.
Talks are being led by an intergovernmental working group, which has held several rounds of negotiations in recent months. Although officials report progress in narrowing differences, several contentious issues remain unresolved, leaving little time to reach agreement before the World Health Assembly convenes next month.
At issue is how far the system should impose binding obligations on countries and private-sector actors that benefit from shared pathogen data. Proposals under discussion range from mandatory benefit-sharing arrangements, including financial contributions, technology transfers and licensing provisions, to more flexible models with fewer enforceable requirements.
The debate reflects broader tensions exposed during the pandemic, when lower-income countries faced delays in accessing vaccines and treatments despite having contributed data critical to their development. Many policymakers argue that future arrangements must guarantee access to innovations resulting from participation in global health systems.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation said the agreement risks losing credibility unless the annex includes binding provisions to ensure equitable access. “A system that does not guarantee fair access to the benefits of shared pathogens would repeat the imbalances seen during Covid-19,” said Diana Tibesigwa, a regional policy manager at the organisation.
Africa has become a focal point in the negotiations. During the pandemic, the continent accounted for a small share of global vaccine supply despite early contributions to genomic surveillance. Governments and regional bodies have since sought to expand local manufacturing capacity and strengthen regulatory systems.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has set a target for the continent to produce 60 per cent of its vaccines locally by 2040. Countries including Kenya and Nigeria have advanced regulatory reforms, while South Africa has invested in mRNA research and production capabilities.
Advocates argue that without provisions on technology transfer and non-exclusive licensing during public health emergencies, such investments risk being underutilised. Others caution that overly rigid requirements could deter pharmaceutical companies from participating and complicate data-sharing arrangements.
European governments, long central to multilateral health initiatives, are seen as pivotal in bridging the divide between developed and developing countries. The extent to which they support binding commitments is likely to shape the final outcome.
Despite the differences, officials involved in the process remain confident that an agreement can still be reached. The coming weeks will determine whether negotiators can reconcile competing positions in time for the assembly or if the treaty timeline will be delayed.
Beyond the immediate negotiations, health experts note that the issues at stake extend to ongoing infectious disease challenges, including HIV, where access to prevention, testing and treatment remains uneven across regions.
