00:00Talks have resumed at the World Health Organization to finalise a key part of a global pandemic agreement,
00:07with negotiators given one final week to reach a deal.
00:11The discussions focus on the pathogen access and benefit sharing system,
00:17which is seen as central to how future pandemics would be managed.
00:22The system sets out how countries would share viruses with pandemic potential
00:27and how vaccines, tests and treatments developed from them would be distributed.
00:33Developing countries warn they could be asked to share virus samples
00:37without guaranteed access to affordable medical products during a crisis.
00:43Wealthier nations, meanwhile, have raised concerns over whether pharmaceutical companies
00:48would fully participate without clear commercial incentives.
00:52A broader pandemic agreement was reached last year to improve global coordination
00:56after COVID-19, but key details on the pathogen access and benefit sharing system were left unresolved.
01:04Under the current proposal, drug makers would set aside up to 20% of production of vaccines,
01:10tests and treatments for the WHO for redistribution with half donated
01:15and the rest supplied at affordable prices.
01:19Negotiators now face a deadline ahead of the World Health Assembly in May,
01:23with developing countries pushing for stronger, legally-binding guarantees on access.
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