AHF Calls for Binding Pathogen Access in Pandemic Agreement

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has issued a statement emphasizing the critical need for binding pathogen access and benefit-sharing agreements among World Health Organization (WHO) member states. AHF asserts that the pandemic agreement cannot progress without a binding pathogen access (PAB) annex that guarantees enforcement of benefit-sharing across various pandemic phases.

The organization calls for clear upfront obligations for governments, discouraging reliance on bilateral negotiations with manufacturers. AHF advocates for setting aside a percentage of vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments for pre-negotiated licensing and technology transfer, alongside annual financial contributions to ensure public access to non-commercial outputs.

The statement highlights the importance of mandatory user registration and traceable data access agreements to protect against exploitation. AHF warns that without strong enforcement of equitable provisions, the world risks repeating the failures experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upcoming negotiations, scheduled for May 2025, are deemed critical for establishing a robust framework for future pandemic responses.