Waiver will need the backing of the 164 members of the WTO, which takes decisions based on consensus. The World Trade Organization has praised a provisional deal to waive patent rights for COVID-19 vaccines after more than a year of deadlock, though drugmakers said the move risked undermining the industry’s ability to respond to future health crises. We have more …
Shortages of vaccines and medicines to cope with Covid-19 are the most perturbing features of the second wave of the pandemic. India, which is facing shortages of vaccines and medicines, can do better if the government decides to invoke two provisions of the country’s Patents Act, which Parliament included to address public health emergencies. While amending India’s Patents Act after …
India and South Africa have been urging WTO members to temporarily suspend rules on intellectual property rights, arguing that it is the most efficient and equitable way to address vaccine shortages in poor countries. “We are for the waiver at the WTO, we are for what the proponents of the waiver are trying to accomplish, which is better access, more …
The World Trade Organization General Council gathered virtually on Monday for the first of two days of talks amid increasing calls from civil society, states and nongovernmental actors to temporarily waive patents for COVID-19 vaccines and other coronavirus-related medical products. Endorsing a waiver on Friday, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “If not now, when?” At the core …
New Delhi: As many as 40 members of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization have discussed a proposal submitted by India and South Africa for relaxing certain provisions in intellectual property agreement with a view to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, India and South Africa have submitted a proposal suggesting a waiver for all WTO members on the implementation, …