Indonesia and European Pressure in WHO Global Pandemic Negotiations
The European Union’s position in negotiations on global pandemic rules is in the spotlight ahead of the final round of discussions under the WHO Pandemic Agreement framework. Several global health organisations assess that the stance of some EU member states could hinder efforts to strengthen equitable health access at the international level.
The agreement, initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to build a global cooperation system better prepared to face future health crises. However, the ratification process remains delayed due to a lack of consensus on key annexes regulating pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS or Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing).
PABS governs the sharing of virus samples and genetic data with researchers and the pharmaceutical industry, while establishing obligations to share resulting benefits, such as vaccines, medicines, and health technologies. Several EU countries are reportedly opposed to binding provisions, particularly those requiring companies to share benefits.
This stance has drawn criticism from health advocacy groups, including the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Such an approach is seen as risking the weakening of global equity principles.
The experience during the COVID-19 pandemic forms the primary backdrop for these concerns. Inequities in vaccine and medical equipment distribution at that time highlighted access gaps between developed and developing countries.
Beyond benefit-sharing issues, debates also cover transparency. Proposals allowing anonymous access to pathogen data are viewed as potentially complicating tracking of data use and posing biosecurity risks.
On the other hand, some EU parties argue that flexible access is necessary to maintain smooth research and innovation. These differing views represent one of the main challenges in reaching an agreement.
Amid these dynamics, Indonesia emerges as one of the countries holding a key role in the negotiation process. As part of the developing nations’ group, Indonesia is seen as having a strategic position to push for a more inclusive and equitable agreement.
Indonesia’s involvement not only reflects national interests but also represents the voice of Global South countries, which have long faced limitations in accessing health technologies. Support for a fair benefit-sharing mechanism is viewed as key to ensuring that contributions from developing countries in data and pathogen samples are balanced by equal access to the end results.
The final negotiation round, scheduled for late March 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, is regarded as a crucial moment. The outcomes will not only determine the direction of the WHO Pandemic Agreement but also reflect global commitment to health equity principles.
If no agreement is reached, ratification risks further delays or resulting in compromises deemed insufficiently robust. Conversely, a stronger agreement is hoped to prevent repeats of past pandemic inequities.
In this context, scrutiny of the European Union intensifies. The role of countries like Indonesia becomes crucial in driving the creation of a fairer and more resilient global health system in the future.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has reaffirmed its support for Indonesia and other countries advocating for a fair, enforceable, and effective PABS annex. The organisation notes that high hopes from communities across the Global South now rest on the negotiating countries to uphold equity principles in the global health system.
“The world cannot face another pandemic like COVID-19. The WHO Pandemic Agreement is incomplete without the PABS Annex. Spain, Luxembourg, and Belgium have shown courage. Now Germany, Switzerland, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, and the European Union must step up. AHF has been active across the Asia-Pacific to strengthen equity. At this critical time, we urge all media to push the European Union to end its resistance and side with health equity,” said Dr. Chhim Sarath, Head of AHF’s Asia Bureau, in an official statement on Monday (23/3).
AHF also reaffirms its commitment to stand with countries fighting for justice in the global health architecture. As a global organisation in the field of HIV/AIDS, AHF currently serves over 2.8 million patients in more than 50 countries, including Indonesia, providing treatment access and advocacy regardless of economic ability.