India and the WHO Pandemic Agreement

UPSC Mains GS Paper II & III International Relations, Health & S&T

India and the WHO Pandemic Agreement

In September 2026, India supported fair access to vaccines and medicines while respecting national sovereignty, as the US opposed the declaration over the PABS system and the WHO’s role in declaring pandemics
PA ADOPTED (2025): VOTES
124 for, 0 against, 11 abstain
RATIFICATIONS TO ENTER INTO FORCE
60
PABS ANNEX MAY GO TO WHA
May 2027
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Why in News?

  • In September 2026, India supported fair access to vaccines and medicines while respecting national sovereignty.
  • The United States (US) opposed the declaration over the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system and the World Health Organization (WHO)’s role in declaring pandemics.
  • The PABS annex is still under negotiation and may be adopted at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2027.
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Source: The Hindu
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Global Pandemic Framework

  • The WHO Pandemic Agreement (PA) was adopted in 2025 with 124 votes in favour, none against and 11 abstentions. It is the first global legal regime on pandemics.
  • Article 12 mandates the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system, which links sharing of pathogen samples and sequence data with sharing of vaccines and therapeutics.
  • The PA opens for ratification only after the annex is adopted, and enters into force after 60 ratifications.
  • The International Health Regulations (2005), amended in 2024, remain the binding framework for health emergencies.

Key Provisions

  • The PA covers surveillance, One Health, health workforce, technology transfer, local manufacturing and equitable access.
  • Negotiations are led by the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG).
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Source: The Hindu
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Global Divides

IssueGlobal SouthGlobal NorthIndia
One Health monitoringRefuses without guaranteed fundingReluctant to guarantee fundingWants technical partnerships
Technology transferWants stronger commitmentsOpposes binding targetsSeeks access and shares its own strengths
PABS / WHO roleSupports PABS for fair accessUS rejects itBacks multilateralism with sovereignty
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Source: The Hindu
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Multi-Dimensional Impact

International Relations

  • Sovereignty versus solidarity is the core tension, and India’s line of “solidarity through action” tries to balance both.
  • The North-South divide over funding and technology transfer risks a regime that is binding on paper but weak in practice.
  • US resistance weakens funding and universality. Critics fear dilution of national decision-making, while supporters argue only a shared regime prevents vaccine nationalism.

Governance and Federalism

Public health is a State subject, so surveillance and One Health obligations need Centre-State coordination.

Science and Technology, Economy

India is the “pharmacy of the world”, yet patents are held by global firms and India is import-dependent for APIs, so it needs fair licensing as both manufacturer and supplier.

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Source: The Hindu
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Why It Matters for India

  • Strategic leadership: An equitable regime strengthens India’s claim to lead the Global South on health.
  • Economic interest: Predictable access rules protect India’s vaccine and pharma exports.
  • Technology access: The PA can open access to advanced technology for PPE and medical devices.
  • Global public goods: India’s digital health, laboratory networks and One Health work can serve other countries.
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Source: The Hindu
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Key Implementation Gaps

Unfinished Annex

Ratification cannot begin, which delays operationalisation.

Funding Gap

Unfunded obligations such as One Health monitoring burden fragile health systems.

Weak Enforcement

Soft technology-transfer commitments may not change behaviour in a crisis.

Industry Resistance

Real-time sharing at affordable prices clashes with patent holders’ interests.

Domestic Gaps

API dependence and the lack of a settled framework on biological material access limit India’s credibility.

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Source: The Hindu
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Government Initiatives / Existing Measures

  • PM-ABHIM (2021): strengthens health infrastructure, laboratories and surveillance.
  • Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and Disaster Management Act, 2005: legal basis for epidemic response.
  • ICMR and NCDC: research and disease surveillance.
  • Global Initiative on Digital Health (G-20, 2023): launched during India’s presidency.
  • Vaccine Maitri (2021) and CoWIN: vaccine supply abroad and a digital vaccination platform.
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Source: The Hindu
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Way Forward

Centre (MEA, MoHFW)
Build technical partnerships on One Health, surveillance and health workforce with Global South countries.
Centre
Use G-20, the H20 summit (planned for 2027) and Partners for Multilateralism to press for funded commitments.
Centre and States
Align domestic rules on biological material access and benefit-sharing with the equity standards India demands globally.
Industry and Regulators
Cut API dependence and negotiate fair licensing for supplying the Global South.
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Source: The Hindu
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Value Addition

  • Constitutional Provisions: Article 51 (respect for treaties); Article 253 (legislation to implement international agreements); public health in the State List.
  • International Linkages / SDGs: SDG 3, SDG 10, SDG 17; WHO; IHR (2005).
Conclusion: The Pandemic Agreement tries to correct the inequities exposed by COVID-19, but it stays incomplete until the PABS annex is settled. India’s interests as a manufacturer and its responsibilities to the Global South both point to an equitable and funded regime. Its credibility will rest on strong domestic standards and sharing its health systems as global public goods, balancing sovereignty with solidarity.
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Source: The Hindu

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