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WHO urges rapid approval of pathogen access system to prepare for next pandemic
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged member states to expedite the approval of the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. Speaking at a high-level meeting in New York, Tedros stated that the occurrence of a future pandemic is a matter of 'when, not if.'
The PABS system is a critical component for the ratification of the Pandemic Agreement. It establishes a reciprocal framework where countries share data on dangerous pathogens in exchange for guaranteed access to resulting vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. Tedros warned that procedural delays in finalizing this system would impose significant costs on all nations when the next health crisis arrives.
Reflecting on the lessons of COVID-19, the Director-General emphasized that global cooperation, rather than isolation, is the most effective defense against future epidemics. He noted that while the world remains polarized, the progress made on the International Health Regulations and the Pandemic Agreement demonstrates that multilateralism remains functional.
Entities
New York · Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus · United Nations · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Delays in approving the PABS annex will result in high costs for all countries during the next pandemic. elinformadorve.com · capital.es · rtpbolivia.com.bo
- [● 2 SOURCES] The PABS annex is necessary for the ratification of the Pandemic Agreement adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025. elinformadorve.com · capital.es
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The PABS system involves countries sharing information on dangerous virus and bacteria samples in exchange for guaranteed access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. rtpbolivia.com.bo
- [● 3 SOURCES] The next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. elinformadorve.com · capital.es · rtpbolivia.com.bo
- [● 3 SOURCES] Member states must finalize and approve the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex as soon as possible. elinformadorve.com · capital.es · rtpbolivia.com.bo