On Monday evening, 25 May 2026, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization, concluded the 159th session of the WHO Executive Board by exhorting WHO member states to conclude the PABS Annex. His off-the-cuff remarks are captured below.

“As you know, this Assembly and the Board were supposed to be a quiet one – that’s what we expected – but first, Hanta virus and then that was followed by Ebola and I think that reminds us – the importance of concluding the PABS Annex as soon as possible which is the last piece of the puzzle.

So there is agreement to come back, the IGWG in July, but the work should be done, I think, after a bit of a break, you need a break as well between now and July when the IGWG comes back. The informal sessions will help for the success of the formal one that starts in July. I just want to underline the importance of really investing your time and energy on PABS and finding a middle ground to the pending differences that you have.”