NEW DELHI: India has called for a global system that ensures countries sharing pathogens and biological resources during a health emergency also get timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, medicines and technologies developed from them.The demand was made at the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York, where India stressed that the credibility of the WHO Pandemic Agreement would depend on a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system.Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said countries contributing pathogens should receive the benefits arising from their use, while respecting national sovereignty. She also said ongoing negotiations on the PABS system should not be prejudged and that implementation should take into account national circumstances and capacities.Drawing on its experience during Covid-19, India also called for digital public infrastructure to be recognised as a global public good, citing its role in disease surveillance, vaccination, risk communication, supply chains and continuity of health services during the pandemic.India highlighted its contribution during Covid, saying it supplied 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries and two UN entities, besides providing medical assistance to more than 150 countries.At the meeting, India also outlined measures to strengthen pandemic preparedness, including expanding laboratory networks, emergency coordination, the health workforce, stockpiles and clinical care capacity.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, is aimed at strengthening global preparedness for future pandemics. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for urgent completion of negotiations on the PABS system, saying delays could affect the world’s ability to respond to future pandemics.India stressed that pandemic preparedness must remain rooted in national health systems and domestic financing, with international assistance complementing national efforts. It also called for equity and global solidarity to remain central to preparations for future outbreaks.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank strikeCJP ProtestGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court
NEW DELHI: India has called for a global system that ensures countries sharing pathogens and biological resources during a health emergency also get timely access to vaccines, diagnostics, medicines and technologies developed from them.The demand was made at the UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in New York, where India stressed that the credibility of the WHO Pandemic Agreement would depend on a fair Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system.Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said countries contributing pathogens should receive the benefits arising from their use, while respecting national sovereignty. She also said ongoing negotiations on the PABS system should not be prejudged and that implementation should take into account national circumstances and capacities.Drawing on its experience during Covid-19, India also called for digital public infrastructure to be recognised as a global public good, citing its role in disease surveillance, vaccination, risk communication, supply chains and continuity of health services during the pandemic.India highlighted its contribution during Covid, saying it supplied 300 million vaccine doses to around 100 countries and two UN entities, besides providing medical assistance to more than 150 countries.At the meeting, India also outlined measures to strengthen pandemic preparedness, including expanding laboratory networks, emergency coordination, the health workforce, stockpiles and clinical care capacity.
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The WHO Pandemic Agreement, adopted in May 2025, is aimed at strengthening global preparedness for future pandemics. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for urgent completion of negotiations on the PABS system, saying delays could affect the world’s ability to respond to future pandemics.India stressed that pandemic preparedness must remain rooted in national health systems and domestic financing, with international assistance complementing national efforts. It also called for equity and global solidarity to remain central to preparations for future outbreaks.
