The sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement is set for March 23-28, 2026, to discuss pandemic preparedness.
The sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement will take place in a hybrid format from March 23 to 28, 2026. This meeting aims to further the discussions initiated by the World Health Assembly, which adopted the agreement in May 2025.
During this upcoming meeting, sessions are scheduled from 09:00 to 13:30, 14:00 to 16:30, and 18:00 to 20:30, with a closing session planned from 20:30 to 23:00. The focus will be on drafting and negotiating an annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which is crucial for enhancing global pandemic preparedness.
The Health Assembly established the IGWG to ensure a comprehensive approach to pandemic response, emphasizing the need for a multilateral system for safe, transparent, and accountable access and benefit-sharing of pandemic-related materials and sequence information, known as the PABS System.
The outcome of the IGWG’s work on the PABS annex will be submitted to the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in 2026, marking a significant step in global health governance.
The WHO Pandemic Agreement is designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, reflecting a collective commitment to address future health emergencies effectively.
As the meeting approaches, observers are keen to see how the discussions will shape international health policy and what specific measures will be proposed to enhance global cooperation in the face of pandemics.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific agenda items and the participation of member states, but the importance of this meeting cannot be overstated as nations continue to grapple with the impacts of recent global health crises.
