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Original title: The battle for the new vaccine of the burned crown in the WTO. Developing countries request an exemption from intellectual property rules. Source: Reference News Network
According to a report published on the website of the French daily Le Monde on February 4, for developing countries, the battle to curb the new corona virus pandemic has also started at the World Trade Organization (WTO). On February 4, South Africa and India’s request for the introduction of a temporary exception to the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Agreement may be discussed again in an attempt to convince certain countries that various regulations protect major groups in the pharmaceutical industry. You need to be flexible.
Mustajim De Gama, South Africa’s representative to the WTO, said: “All countries, rich or poor, should have all the means to defeat the new corona virus. However, the global shortage of substances related to the novel coronavirus the corona exists in several countries. On the one hand, such as the new coronavirus vaccine, virus detection reagents, protective equipment for medical personnel … Furthermore, the most important reason is the monopoly position of certain companies “So the production of all these important products must be open to other operators. The urgency of public health may show that it is right to get rid of existing frameworks that are not suitable for major crises.”
According to the report, these two emerging countries made requests to the WTO in early October last year. Since then, countries like the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Canada have opposed this request because they all have large pharmaceutical groups dedicated to curbing the new corona virus. The requests made by South Africa and India are for the temporary cancellation of intellectual property restrictions on patent certificates, copyrights and “undisclosed information” entering the production process until the new corona epidemic is brought under control.
The report noted that 11 countries formally supported this initiative, including Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia and Pakistan. According to De Gama, more than 100 countries have also expressed their support. However, voting on this decision has not been considered, although the WTO Constitution stipulates that this can be done “in special circumstances”. De Gama is willing to believe that “the discussion will move forward. We must find a common solution, because only by showing solidarity and mutual assistance can we defeat the new corona pandemic.” His country, South Africa, currently accounts for 40% of COVID-19 cases in Africa.
These industrialized countries also believe that they have assumed responsibility for mutual assistance by funding the “New Coronary Pneumonia Vaccine Implementation Plan”, which will provide 92 low- and middle-income countries with 2 billion doses of vaccine each day. free from now until the end. 2021. Let 20% of people in these countries get vaccinated. De Gama replied: “The new corona pneumonia vaccine implementation plan is a good initiative, but even if they can deliver on their promises, they will only go a long way.”
Sebastian Jean, director of the French Research and Information Center for International Perspectives, recalled: “In view of the extreme emergency, developed countries have a moral responsibility to ensure the global supply of vaccines. The response to the pandemic is limited to the benefit of certain drug companies. This is unreasonable. There is nothing to prove that unlimited hoarding is the right thing to do. “
