PATHOGEN ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING (PABS) SYSTEM

Source: DowntoEarth

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Context

94 organizations, primarily from the Global South, have raised concerns regarding the PABS system, currently being discussed at the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body.

Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) System

• PABS system is a framework proposed to ensure equitable access and sharing of benefits arising from the use of pathogen materials.
• PABS primarily aims to address two key issues:
  1. access to pathogen samples and genetic data, and
  2. the equitable distribution of medical countermeasures such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently discussing this system as part of its ongoing efforts to draft a Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Treaty.

Read about the treaty: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/pandemic-treaty

Read about the pandemic response rules: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/pandemic-response-rules

Key Components

• Pathogen Sharing:
• PABS promotes the rapid and transparent sharing of pathogen samples and genetic data.
• This is essential for developing diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines, as seen in the global response to COVID-19.
• Benefit Sharing:
• In return for pathogen data, the PABS framework suggests that nations should receive equitable access to the resulting medical products.
• The proposed benefit sharing suggests that manufacturers reserve at least 20% of pandemic-related products—10% as donations and 10% at affordable rates for WHO distribution.
• Equitable Access:
• A central goal of PABS is to prevent disparities in healthcare access during global health crises, as evidenced during COVID-19, where wealthier nations secured most of the vaccine supplies.
• The system aims to bridge this gap, ensuring that all countries, especially in the Global South, can access essential medical products on fair terms during pandemics.

PABS and Global Health Governance

• The PABS framework builds on the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.
• It was established in 2011 to manage the sharing of influenza viruses and the benefits derived from them.
• The PABS system seeks to expand this approach to cover a broader range of pathogens and medical countermeasures.

Concerns

Equitable Benefit Sharing in PABS

The concern is that biological resources, especially pathogens used for developing vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics (VTD), may not be shared equitably between Global North and Global South nations.

Need for a Transparent and Independent PABS System

PABS system must be managed by WHO in a way that guarantees independence, accountability, and freedom from conflicts of interest.

Minimal Commitment from Manufacturers

• The current PABS proposal mandates only a 5% contribution of VTDsfrom manufacturers during pandemics.
• This figure falls far short of the 20% originally proposed by the Africa Group.

Inadequate Transparency and Accountability

• The PABS proposal fails to ensure sufficient transparency and accountabilityin the sharing of pathogen materials and digital sequence information (DSI).
• Without clear terms for, the proposal risks undermining international agreements like the Nagoya Protocoland the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Read about CBD: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/united-nations-convention-on-biological-diversity-cbd

Potential Impact on the Pandemic Treaty

• The INB, established in December 2021, is under pressure to finalize the Pandemic Treaty by December 2025.
• However, in the rush to meet this deadline, the document seems to have been stripped of meaningful provisions, including mechanisms for benefit-sharingof pathogen materials.

Way Forward

• There is a need to revise the PABS proposalto ensure it upholds the principles of:

1. Fairness – Ensuring fair distribution of the benefits derived from the use of pathogens.
2. Equity – Prioritizing vulnerable nations to reduce disparities in access to life-saving resources.
3. Transparency – Establishing clear guidelines for accessing and sharing pathogen materials and DSI.

• A robust Pandemic Treaty, inclusive of meaningful benefit-sharing provisions, is essential to ensure that the global response to pandemics is equitableand just.

Sources:

DowntoEarth 

PRACTICE QUESTION Q:Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) System is a critical component of global health governance aimed at ensuring fair access to life-saving medical products during pandemics. Discuss. (150 Words)