Intense negotiations on a landmark global agreement to combat future pandemics remained unresolved on Friday, with World Health Organisation (WHO) member states racing against the clock to finalise the text before a fast-approaching deadline.
The proposed pandemic treaty, first launched in response to the catastrophic impact of COVID-19, aims to bolster global preparedness and coordination for future health threats such as H5N1 bird flu, measles, mpox, and Ebola. Yet, with negotiations still stalled on key provisions, doubts persist over whether a deal can be reached in time for formal adoption at the WHO’s annual assembly next month.
“We urgently need a framework that unites nations and prepares for the next pandemic – it could save thousands, even millions, of lives,” said Dr Michael Ryan, director of WHO’s emergencies programme.
However, experts warn that US President Donald Trump’s renewed decision to pull the United States out of the WHO and dismantle key public health bodies poses a serious risk to international disease surveillance systems.
“This really is a ‘now or never’ moment,” said Sueri Moon, co-director of the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute.
Since December 2021, countries have been working towards a consensus agreement to avoid repeating the shortcomings exposed during the COVID-19 crisis. But disagreements persist, especially on whether pharmaceutical companies should be required to share vaccine technology and how to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related products.
After 13 formal rounds of talks, negotiators gathered in Geneva this week for a final push, hoping to resolve the outstanding issues before the Friday night deadline. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed cautious optimism, saying, “I hope they will reach a deal.”
Ryan noted that discussions were progressing, but warned that “there are still difficult issues on the table.” A diplomatic source told AFP that while many contentious points had been resolved in recent months, “the outcome remains unpredictable”.
China’s diplomatic mission in Geneva acknowledged that “substantial progress” had been made but added that “differences remain on key articles.” It urged all countries to “show mutual understanding” to deliver a “meaningful, equitable and actionable” agreement.
Observers say a further extension of the talks into May remains on the table, but there is growing concern that prolonged delays could derail the entire process. NGOs and public health advocates are now calling for flexibility.
Ellen ‘t Hoen, director of the Medicines Law and Policy organisation, said it was better to approve an imperfect agreement than to risk starting again. “That would likely only happen after another pandemic strikes — and that would be an unacceptable failure.”
One of the final sticking points concerns the proposed Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing System (PABS). This would require pharmaceutical firms to provide the WHO with fast-track access to 20% of their pandemic-related health product output — half as donations and half at affordable prices.
But the clause has raised objections, particularly from vaccine-producing countries that view the demand as excessive.
Although discussions could technically continue beyond the May assembly, many warn that momentum could be lost. “If this drags on any further, it will probably be too late,” Moon cautioned. “The wind will go out of the sails.”
