In this episode, host Kemi Gbadamosi sits down with Sangeeta Shashikant of the Third World Network to unpack the high-stakes negotiations around the pathogen access and benefit sharing annex, a key part of the global pandemic agreement adopted in 2025.
They break down why this system matters for the future of pandemic preparedness, how pathogen samples and genetic data help develop vaccines and treatments, and why developing countries are demanding fair benefit sharing in return. The conversation also explores tensions between public health and commercial interests, the role of pharmaceutical companies, and the concerns that the current negotiating text may weaken equity rather than strengthen it.
With another pandemic always a possibility, the decisions being made now could shape whether the next global health emergency is handled more fairly than COVID-19. At the center of the debate is a simple question: will the global system prioritize people and public health, or profit and power?