Access And Benefit Sharing | Community Health

Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) refers to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, aiming to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. The Nagoya Protocol, a 2010 supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), sets out obligations for countries to ensure access to genetic resources and share benefits. With 142 parties ratified as of August 2025, including 141 UN member states and the European Union, ABS has become a crucial aspect of international cooperation in genetic resource management. The protocol's implementation has significant implications for public health, as it promotes the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of genetic resources, ultimately contributing to the development of new medicines and therapies. For instance, the ABS framework has facilitated the sharing of genetic resources for the development of vaccines and treatments for diseases such as Ebola and COVID-19, highlighting its importance in global health security.