BRICS Summit Urges Constructive Talks on WHO Pathogen Access Agreement
· World · Indian Express
The New Delhi Declaration, adopted during the 18th BRICS summit, calls for constructive negotiations regarding the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex to the WHO pandemic agreement. Member states reaffirmed their sovereign rights over national biological resources and the authority to implement domestic access and benefit-sharing legislation. The PABS Annex aims to establish a framework for sharing dangerous pathogens alongside the resulting medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines. Countries remain divided on whether sharing pathogen samples should be mandatorily linked to the distribution of benefits, such as intellectual property or affordable production quotas. The declaration also emphasizes the coordinating role of the WHO, a stance noted in the context of the United States' withdrawal from the organization earlier this year.
Why it matters
The outcome of these negotiations will determine how global health resources and intellectual property are shared during future pandemics, directly impacting the ability of developing nations to secure affordable vaccines and medical supplies.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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