A key deadline to finalise a global pandemic treaty has been missed by negotiators, prompting warnings that the world remains unprepared for the next major disease outbreak.

Countries have been trying to agree how they should share information on pathogens, such as bacteria or viruses, that could cause pandemics – and what access to any resulting vaccines, tests and treatments they should be guaranteed in return.

That “pathogen access and benefit sharing” (Pabs) system must be in place before the World Health Organization’s pandemic agreement, governing how the world should respond to large-scale disease outbreaks in the future, can come into force.

It was “deeply regrettable” that countries had failed to find agreement ahead of this month’s World Health Assembly in Geneva, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia, and Helen Clark, former prime minister of New Zealand, who co-chaired the WHO’s Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, said in a statement.

The panel recommended a pandemic agreement five years ago after reviewing the international response to Covid-19 and finding millions of lives could have been saved by a faster and more coordinated response.

“If a new pathogen emerged today, the world remains largely unprepared for it. A lack of action to prevent and prepare for the next pandemic threat is a disservice to humanity,” the statement said.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO’s director general, urged nations to “continue approaching the outstanding issues with a sense of urgency because the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if”.

World leaders first announced plans for a pandemic treaty in March 2021. However, high levels of mistrust between richer and poorer countries have slowed progress. One problem was the amount of disinformation circulating on social media, including false claims that the accord would cede national sovereignty to the WHO.

The pandemic agreement was finally passed in May 2025, and praised as “a victory for public health”, particularly in the context of fragmenting global cooperation and the US withdrawal from the WHO.

But the accord was only passed by pushing the thorny issue of Pabs into an annexe to the main treaty, subject to further negotiations. The agreement comes into force 30 days after 60 countries have ratified it but it will not be open for signatures until the annexe is completed.

The main dispute is broadly between developed and developing countries. Negotiating blocs such as the Group for Equity and the Africa Group want a standard contract that makes it mandatory for pharmaceutical companies to share any medical products developed as a result of countries sharing dangerous pathogens with them.

Several European countries have argued this could stifle research and development and reportedly proposed a hybrid model, with a mix of mandatory and voluntary requirements.

The plan had been to present an agreed Pabs system for approval in Geneva this month. However, a statement from negotiators said they needed more time, suggesting the 2027 World Health Assembly as the new deadline.