Malaysia calls for equal footing in WHO pandemic pact

Malaysia has called for pathogen sharing and benefit-sharing to be placed on an equal footing under a new global framework for pandemic preparedness.

Foreign minister Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia welcomed the World Health Organization’s Pandemic Agreement but called for a “robust and equitable” Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing Annex.

He said stronger pandemic preparedness would remain incomplete without equity, while the framework must also respect national legislation and state sovereignty.

“Equity must also be supported by the capacity to research, develop and produce essential health products,” he said at a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response at the 81st United Nations General Assembly here.

Member states adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement in May 2025, but negotiations on the PABS annex are still ongoing.

The annex is intended to establish a multilateral system for the sharing of pathogens and the fair sharing of benefits, including vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics developed from them.

WHO member states held their latest round of negotiations earlier this month, with the outcome to be submitted to the World Health Assembly in May 2027, or earlier at a special session in 2026.

Meanwhile, Mohamad said Malaysia was strengthening its own pandemic readiness through the National Action Plan for Health Security 2025–2030, covering health-system readiness, disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency coordination and workforce preparedness.

He also cited Malaysia’s “One Health” approach to managing microbiological threats in food, water and the environment, while saying the country was building its capacity to research, develop and produce vaccines and other essential health products through its National Vaccine Development Roadmap 2021–2030.

On financing, Mohamad said international pandemic-preparedness funding should be “adequate, predictable and responsive” to public health risks and country needs.

“International mechanisms must complement domestic investment, strengthen national capacities, and reinforce universal health coverage,” he added.

He said the true test of the meeting would be whether the next threat could be detected earlier, contained faster and met with fairer access to life-saving tools.

“Let us make our solidarity not just an improvised response to crisis, but a standing commitment secured before the next emergency, for every nation and every generation.”

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