Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continues to call member states to negotiate and conclude a strong and meaningful Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) that ensures equity and enables the Pandemic Agreement to open for signature and enter into force. The current Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) reveals access gaps in diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics that could have been avoided. We must not repeat the past pattern. R&D and access needs of the most affected communities must be addressed and protected in peacetime and during the outbreaks.
MSF reiterates our call on governments to finalise PABS with enforceable and upfront benefit-sharing obligations, including technology transfer and meaningful licensing, and covering equitable access needs during PHEIC.
We recall that a strong PABS is an essential pillar to ensure equity. As global research and development (R&D) efforts to develop BDBV medical tools accelerate, this is a critical moment to ensure access considerations are embedded from the outset of R&D fundings and initiatives. PABS must form part of a package under the Pandemic Agreement that includes enforceable access conditions in R&D funding, post-trial access commitments for high-risk communities, access to comparator products, transparency and accountability in R&D governance, coordinated procurement, stockpiling and equitable allocations. Access-related obligations already agreed under the International Health Regulations must also be fully implemented to support equity.
Only such a comprehensive approach can close global preparedness gaps and protect those most affected by outbreaks.
