India has called for a fair and practical system for pathogen access and benefit sharing under the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Agreement, stressing that countries contributing pathogens and biological resources should receive timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics and related technologies.Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava made the remarks at a United Nations high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response in New York on September 25.Key HighlightsIndia called for fair pathogen access and benefit sharing under the WHO Pandemic Agreement.Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava addressed the UN meeting in New York.Countries contributing pathogens should receive timely access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.India stressed stronger global cooperation on pandemic preparedness.India highlighted digital public infrastructure as a potential global public good.WHO members are negotiating the PABS system, which is expected to support equitable access to pandemic-related health products.India Pushes for Fair Pathogen AccessSrivastava said the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing, or PABS, system should ensure that countries and communities contributing pathogens and biological resources benefit from products developed using them.The proposed system is a central part of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. It is intended to facilitate timely sharing of pathogens and genetic sequence information while ensuring fair and equitable access to vaccines, medicines and diagnostics developed from those resources.India has previously supported a PABS framework that is practical, equitable, transparent and capable of delivering tangible public-health benefits. At the World Health Assembly in May 2026, India also called for standardized and legally binding contracts governing access to pathogens with pandemic potential.India Highlights Lessons From COVID-19During the UN meeting, Srivastava said the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic should translate into sustained investment, stronger institutions and more resilient health systems.She outlined India's efforts to strengthen laboratory networks, emergency coordination, the health workforce, medical stockpiles and clinical-care capacity.India also stressed that pandemic preparedness should be integrated into national health systems, development plans and domestic financing, while international assistance should complement national efforts.Digital Infrastructure and Pandemic ResponseIndia also highlighted the role of digital public infrastructure in responding to health emergencies.Srivastava pointed to digital systems used for disease surveillance, vaccination, risk communication, supply chains and continuity of health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.She called for digital public infrastructure to be recognised as a global public good, reflecting India's experience with technology-enabled health services during the pandemic.India’s Vaccine Support During COVID-19India also referred to its international support during the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the Health Ministry statement cited by IANS, India supplied around 300 million vaccine doses to about 100 countries and two UN entities and provided medical assistance to more than 150 countries.The government said this reflected India's emphasis on international cooperation and the “One Earth, One Health” approach.WHO Pandemic Agreement and PABS NegotiationsThe WHO Pandemic Agreement was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025. Its PABS annex is still under negotiation.WHO said its member states concluded the eighth meeting of the relevant negotiating group on September 18, making progress on a proposed system designed to enable rapid sharing of pathogens and, on an equal basis, sharing of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics developed from them.At the September 25 UN high-level meeting, countries again stressed the need to complete negotiations on the PABS annex. WHO said adoption of the annex at the World Health Assembly in May 2027 is needed before member states can begin national consideration of ratifying the Pandemic Agreement.What Happens Next?Negotiations on pathogen access and benefit sharing will continue as countries work towards completing the PABS annex.The issue remains important for developing countries because the system is intended to connect pathogen sharing with equitable access to the vaccines, diagnostics and treatments that may result from research using those pathogens.India's latest position focuses on ensuring that global pandemic preparedness includes both timely access to biological resources for research and fair access to the health products developed from them.
