At a high-level pandemic prep meeting in New York, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava dropped a quiet but powerful demand: countries that share virus samples should get fair access to the medicines and vaccines made from them. Why does this matter? Because during Covid-19, many developing nations sent critical samples; then waited months (or never got) the vaccines built from them. India, which shipped 300 million doses globally, knows this gap firsthand. The global Pandemic Agreement exists; but its most crucial part (PABS) is still being negotiated. India’s stand? Don’t let political handshakes decide science. It’s not just about next pandemic prep; it’s about who benefits when science wins. And as India pushes digital infrastructure and local health systems too, it’s clear: equity isn’t charity. It’s smart global health policy.