The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has called on member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) to urgently finalize a legally binding Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex to complete the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
The appeal comes ahead of the resumed sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group in Geneva, seen as the last chance to reach consensus before the World Health Assembly in May.
Although the agreement was adopted in 2025, AHF stressed it remains ineffective without the PABS framework.
According to the group, the annex is crucial in regulating how pathogen samples and genetic data are shared globally—and how resulting benefits like vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments are distributed fairly.
It warned that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed stark inequalities, with many poorer countries denied timely access to lifesaving tools.
AHF Nigeria insisted the annex must be enforceable, with clear obligations across all phases, including preparedness and public health emergencies.
It advocated mandatory benefit-sharing measures such as reserving a portion of vaccines, technology transfer agreements, financial contributions from manufacturers, and transparent standardized contracts.
The group also rejected loopholes like anonymous access and dual-track systems, urging strict traceability and equity-driven intellectual property rules.
It emphasized that global cooperation must replace exploitation, warning that failure to adopt a strong PABS Annex risks repeating past injustices in future pandemics.
Reporting by Alfred Ajayi