Global pandemic treaty remains in limbo as nations struggle to finalize key provisions

The international pandemic agreement, adopted by the World Health Organization in May 2025, is currently stuck in a state of legal and diplomatic limbo. Although the framework was designed to improve global readiness for future health crises, member states were only able to secure the necessary votes for adoption by deferring the finalization of its most controversial details.

As of last week, the eighth round of negotiations held in Geneva yielded little concrete progress. Suerie Moon, co-director of the global health center at the Geneva Graduate Institute, described the situation as a “continued limbo,” noting that while the mood among diplomats is somber, the path forward remains unclear despite a widespread understanding that advancement is essential.

At the core of the dispute is the issue of access and equity, specifically concerning the sharing of data on new pathogens and the subsequent distribution of vaccines, drugs, and tests derived from that information. Critics point to the stark inequities observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where wealthy nations secured rapid and abundant vaccine access while lower-income countries received minimal supplies.

Sangeeta Shashikant, a legal adviser for the Third World Network, stated that the agreement represents a crucial attempt to bridge that gap. While nations have agreed in principle to obligations regarding equitable sharing, they have been unable to define the specific structure of the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) annex. “There was staggering inequity during COVID-19,” Shashikant said, explaining that the treaty aims to prevent a repeat of that disparity.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed directly to nations to resolve the deadlock. “I am confident that countries will find common ground, just as they did with the agreement itself,” he said. He warned that further delays would not merely be procedural but would result in significant real-world costs to all countries when the next pandemic emerges, urging leaders to get the process done as soon as possible.