India’s Push for Equity in the WHO Pandemic Treaty: The PABS Framework

In the final stages of negotiations for the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Treaty, India has emerged as a leading voice for the Global South, advocating for a legally binding 'Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing' (PABS) system. The proposed treaty, being negotiated by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), aims to establish a global framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, learning from the systemic failures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

India’s primary contention is that the current system of sharing biological data is asymmetrical. While developing nations are expected to share pathogen samples and genetic sequence data (GSD) promptly to facilitate global research, they often find themselves at the back of the queue when the resulting vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics are distributed. India insists that the sharing of such data must be inextricably linked to a "guaranteed and equitable" share of the benefits derived from that data.

The PABS system, as envisioned by India, would mandate that a specific percentage of pandemic-related products be reserved for the WHO to distribute to developing countries at affordable prices or as donations. This seeks to institutionalize equity, moving away from the ad-hoc, voluntary charity models that proved insufficient during the 2020-2022 crisis. India has also emphasized the need for a system that does not compromise the sovereign rights of nations over their biological resources.

Furthermore, India’s stance reflects a broader push for "Health Sovereignty." By demanding a legally binding mechanism, India is challenging the dominance of the Global North’s pharmaceutical giants and advocating for a more democratic global health architecture. This includes provisions for technology transfer and the potential waiving of intellectual property rights during health emergencies to boost local manufacturing capacities in the Global South.