On 13 January 2026, the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) transmitted a letter to all Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Office in Geneva, ahead of the resumption of negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Drawing on eight years of independent monitoring and lessons from COVID-19 and other Public Health Emergencies of International Concern, the Board emphasizes that access to pathogen samples, data, and resulting medical countermeasures remains central to effective pandemic response. The GPMB calls on Member States to approach the final phase of negotiations with ambition, unity, and urgency, noting that the benefits of a strong multilateral PABS system will substantially outweigh any perceived costs.
The letter from the GPMB Co-Chairs is available below.
GPMB PABS Letter to Permanent Representatives - 13 January 2026