India’s Stakes in the Global Pandemic Agreement, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• India made official remarks on the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response (PPPR) at the UN High Level Meeting in New York in September 2026.
• The Declaration is part of the emerging global legal regime on pandemics, led by the WHO-Pandemic Agreement (PA), which was adopted by 124 member-states in May 2025.
• Negotiations are ongoing for an annex concerning the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, which is crucial for the PA's ratification.
• India emphasized strengthening global pandemic preparedness, equitable access to drugs, vaccines, and therapeutics, and respect for national sovereignty in shaping global policy.
• The United States rejected the Declaration, citing concerns over PABS and the WHO's role in declaring pandemics as challenges to its national interests.

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Detailed Insights:

• The WHO-Pandemic Agreement (PA) was adopted by 124 member states in May 2025, with 11 abstentions, reflecting broad alignment across income levels.
• Negotiations for the PA highlighted tensions between national sovereignty and international cooperation, particularly regarding funding for fragile health systems and mandatory sharing of vaccines by private manufacturers.
• The PABS system aims to ensure that low-income and lower-middle-income countries receive a fair share of vaccines, medicines, and other therapeutics during a pandemic.
• Even without full ratification, the PA has established a global legal framework for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
• India's stance at the UN HLM balanced the concerns of both the Global North and South, advocating for international coordination while upholding national interests.
• Fault lines emerged as African countries sought significant funding for One Health commitments, and Global North countries resisted binding targets for technology transfer.
• India proposes three strategic options: developing technical partnerships (e.g., One Health, surveillance), leveraging global groupings like the H20 summit and the Global Initiative for Digital Health, and aligning domestic policies with global equity standards.
• India, as a major vaccine manufacturer and the "pharmacy of the world," has a vested interest in an equitable global regime but faces challenges like import dependence for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
• India's participation in initiatives like Partners for Multilateralism, launched in 2026, further demonstrates its commitment to global health governance.

Key Concepts Involved:

• WHO-Pandemic Agreement (PA): A legally binding international instrument adopted in May 2025 to enhance global pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
• Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS): A system under the PA to ensure equitable sharing of pathogen data and benefits derived from it, like vaccines and treatments.
• One Health: An integrated approach recognizing the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health to address health threats.
• Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): The biologically active components in a pharmaceutical drug responsible for its therapeutic effects.
• Global Public Goods: Goods or services whose benefits are non-excludable and non-rivalrous, such as global health security and digital infrastructure.
• South-South Cooperation: Collaboration among developing countries to share knowledge, resources, and expertise for mutual development.