AHF Malawi, JournAids urge govt to finalise PABS annex ahead of WHO assembly

By Martha Chikoti 

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Malawi has urged World Health Organization (WHO) member states to finalize a strong, binding Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.  

The call comes ahead of the resumed sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (Part B) in Geneva next week starting from April 27 to May 1. 

AHF Malawi Country Program Manager Triza Kakhobwe Hara told journalists in Lilongwe that the upcoming session is the last scheduled opportunity to finalize the Annex before the World Health Assembly in May.  

Hara added that the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted in May 2025 cannot advance without the PABS Annex such that the Annex governs how pathogen samples and genetic data are shared and how resulting benefits — including vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments — are equitably returned to countries. 

“Key equity provisions remain unresolved. Without a strong, enforceable agreement, the world risks repeating the failures of COVID-19, when inequitable access to lifesaving tools left many countries behind. The outcome of these negotiations will determine whether future pandemic responses, Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC), and interpandemic periods are driven by equity and cooperation — or by delay, exclusion, and inequality. ” she explained 

On his part, Programme Manager for the Journalits Association Against AIDS (JournAids) Dingaan Mithi said the outlined six key demands to WHO Member States clearly states that “No Equity, No Agreement” considering that the Pandemic agreement cannot move forward without a binding PABS Annex that guarantees enforceable benefit-sharing across all phases — pandemics, PHEICs, and interpandemic periods. 

Mithi added that they call for mandatory benefit-sharing during PHEICs and interpandemic periods, including clear, upfront obligations such as set-aside percentages of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments pre-negotiated licenses and technology transfer, annual financial contributions and public access to non-commercial outputs.  

“Standardized contracts must be negotiated upfront by countries to ensure user registration, traceability, accountability, and enforceability.  No Registration, No Access, supporting mandatory user registration and data access agreements to protect the system from anonymous exploitation,” he emphasized 

Mithi said the advocates rejects any “hybrid” or dual-track system that separates access from benefit-sharing, because it creates loopholes and weakens obligations.  

Additionally, he said the organizations backs a pro-public health approach to intellectual property, stating “Intellectual property rules must serve public health, not monopolies and that shared resources should remain open, and commercial IP must allow WHO to sub-license for equitable access.  

“Without binding benefit-sharing, the world risks repeating the inequities of COVID-19. This Annex is our chance to ensure no country is left behind in the next pandemic,” added Mithi