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A laboratory worker places a test tube containing a patient sample in a box during coronavirus testing.
Geert Vanden Wijngaert / Bloomberg via Getty Images
- SA and India say that intellectual property rights, including patents, could be a barrier to the supply of affordable medicines.
- Therefore, they ask the World Trade Organization to renounce the rules.
- This will make it easier for developing countries to produce or import Covid-19 drugs.
South Africa, along with India, wants the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive intellectual property rules to make it easier for developing countries to produce or import Covid-19 drugs, shows a joint letter.
There is currently no vaccine or drug to effectively prevent or treat Covid-19.
In their letter dated October 2, the two countries asked the world trade body to renounce parts of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), which regulated patents, trademarks, copyright and other intellectual property rules worldwide.
“As new diagnostics, therapies and vaccines for Covid-19 are developed, there is great concern (about) how they will be available quickly, in sufficient quantities and at an affordable price to meet global demand,” the letter was published. on the Geneva-based WTO website, he said.
“Given the current context of global emergency, it is important that WTO Members work together to ensure that intellectual property rights, such as patents, industrial designs, copyright and the protection of undisclosed information, do not create obstacles to timely access to affordable medical products, including vaccines and drugs, or to expanding research, development, manufacturing and supply of essential medical products to combat Covid-19. “
Coronavirus deaths could more than double to two million without collective action against the pandemic, the World Health Organization warned, as Australia’s prime minister urged any nation that develops a vaccine to share it with the world. //t.co/irZIVljZ4W
– News24 (@ News24) September 26, 2020
The two countries said that all WTO members are fighting to contain the spread of the pandemic and provide health care services to those affected.
However, they said developing nations were disproportionately affected by the pandemic and that intellectual property rights, including patents, could be a barrier to the supply of affordable medicines.
“Many developed, developing and least developed countries have declared a national emergency with the aim of curbing the growing outbreak and, as advised by the WHO, have implemented social distancing measures with major consequences for society and the economy. In particular , developing countries and least developed countries are particularly disproportionately affected. “
The letter called for the WTO’s Council for TRIPS to recommend a waiver to the General Council, the WTO’s highest decision-making body in Geneva, “as soon as possible.”
He did not say how much support India and South Africa had from other countries.
A draft General Council decision text presented with the letter said the exemption should last for an as-yet-unspecified number of years and be reviewed annually.
– Additional reports from News24
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