Resistance from this block, which concentrates a large part of the world's production of medicines and vaccines, could postpone final approval until May 2026, during the World Health Assembly. AHF-Panama reminds us that the covid-19 pandemic exposed deep inequalities: more than half of the deaths occurred in countries of the Global South, where access to medical resources was limited. From March 23 to 28, Geneva has become the epicenter of a key debate: how to face future pandemics fairly and effectively. This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) is leading the discussion on the entry into force of the international agreement approved in 2025, designed to ensure equitable access to vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests. However, the implementation of the agreement still faces obstacles. The goal is to prevent the next pandemic from repeating the mistakes of 2020: inequality, mistrust, and lives lost due to a lack of access to essential resources. These gaps reinforce the urgency of establishing clear and fair rules for future health crises. During this week of meetings, countries are seeking not only to finalize deadlines but also to determine how information and benefits will be shared. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF-Panama) warned that differences persist between countries on a key component: the PABS Annex (Access to Pathogens and Benefit Sharing). This mechanism seeks to regulate access to information on pathogens and ensure that the derived benefits are distributed fairly, preventing a few nations from concentrating both the knowledge and the profits. The Panamanian organization states that the disagreement, especially with the European Union, has delayed the application of the agreement.
