AHF urges EU to stop blocking health equity as letters delivered to embassies ahead of crucial WHO pandemic negotiations

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today handed over signed letters to embassies (Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Norway and the UK) in Pretoria as negotiations enter a decisive phase in the PABS annex discussions (a supporting annex to the PABS agreement which was signed in May 2025).  AHF calls on the European Union and key European power brokers to immediately end their obstruction of health equity and support binding, equitable provisions in the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) Annex — the backbone of the WHO Pandemic Agreement. This action comes ahead of the sixth meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG), scheduled for 23–28 March 2026 in Geneva, where the PABS system will face a crucial test regarding equity and accountability.

AHF warned that COVID-19 exposed the devastating consequences of unequal access to vaccines, diagnostics and treatments, and urged EU decision-makers to support a PABS Annex that delivers enforceable benefit-sharing, transparent user registration and traceability, and meaningful civil society inclusion — so that communities in low- and middle-income countries are not left behind again. AHF will brief the media at a press conference in Sandton on 19 March as part of its “EU: Stop Blocking Health Equity” advocacy campaign.