NEW DELHI: The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, along with Brazil, have not supported India and South Africa’s proposal at the World Trade Organization for a temporary exemption from intellectual property rights to address drugs and other issues related to Covid-19. .
At the same time, several developing countries, including China, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia and Turkey, have backed the proposal, which is still on the table but must be ratified by the WTO Travel Council before the end of the year. It also had the support of the World Health Organization. “WHO welcomes South Africa and India’s recent proposal to the WTO to facilitate international and intellectual property agreements on Covid-19 vaccines, treatments and tests so that the tools are available to all who need them at affordable cost, “the agency tweeted.
India and South Africa, supported by Kenya, had suggested that the proposal should be recommended “as soon as possible” to the General Council, but developed countries questioned its relevance and usefulness.
As indicated in the proposals, the exemption would last for as many years as agreed upon from the General Council decision and would remain in effect until widespread vaccination is established globally and the majority of the world’s population has developed immunity. South Africa urged the Travel Council that all WTO members work together to ensure that patents, industrial designs, copyrights and the protection of undisclosed information do not create barriers to timely access to essential affordable medical products. to combat Covid-19.
India said that 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 affordable prices to meet global demand. “The critical shortage of medical products has also put patients suffering from other communicable and non-communicable diseases at serious risk,” the Indian delegation said. Furthermore, India indicated that many countries may face institutional and legal difficulties when using the flexibilities available under the TRIPS Agreement.
On video: Covid-19: US and EU block India’s fight for IPR exemption for medicines
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