Form of words:
New Delhi: India has “warned” the World Trade Organization (WTO) about a possible rise of more ‘Omicron’-like variants if an agreement is reached immediately on waiving intellectual property rights and patent laws on Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics. If it doesn’t, ThePrint said it learned.
The caution came at a one-hour meeting on Monday in Geneva of the WTO’s Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
India told the World Trade Organization that disparity in access to vaccines would lead to “the emergence of variants that may be more permeable” as it insisted on “immediate adoption of the proposal to waive IPRs and patents on COVID vaccines”, which was launched in Geneva. -based business. The official said on condition of anonymity, quoting the Indian response.
New Delhi also said that the new COVID version has turned the “spotlight” back on the fact that “discrimination between vaccinated and unvaccinated people” exists.
It also fought for all developing countries that are suffering because of vaccine shortages as developed countries, especially those in the European Union (EU), refuse to distribute them effectively or waive IPRs on COVID vaccines. agree to do.
The issues were expected to be discussed and it was expected that a preliminary settlement would be reached in the next round. Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC12), which got postponed in the wake of travel restrictions due to the emergence of ‘Omicron’. It was scheduled to take place between November 30 and December 3.
In October 2020India and South Africa jointly proposed Temporary exemption on intellectual property rights on COVID-related products to increase access to vaccines, therapeutics, drugs, diagnostic kits, medical masks, other personal protective equipment and ventilators.
NS The proposal was later amended So that an agreement can be reached immediately to stop the rapid spread of the epidemic. Even the US government supported the proposal to waive IPR on Kovid vaccines.
However, the deal is still elusive as many developed countries are opposed to it.
Read also: Aiming to tackle vaccine inequality, African firm tries to replicate Moderna COVID shot
‘Countries have not acted in a direction that could have saved lives’
According to the official cited above, on Monday, India said that many countries “have not really worked in a direction that could have saved millions of lives and made everyone safer”.
“Instead, time has been used in endless consultations and bilateral meetings, which has not translated into a meaningful outcome, that is, text-based discussions on the TRIPS waiver request,” the official said, India “regrets that what the co-sponsors are arguing has turned out to be true”.
“We have always said that disparity in access to vaccines will not only lead to variants that may be more transmissible, more lethal and will also impede the efficacy of existing vaccines.”
Therefore, New Delhi asked all WTO member countries to initiate text-based dialogue on an urgent basis. Chad, Tanzania, Maldives, Pakistan, Bolivia, Vanuatu, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Egypt took the floor to echo the statement called for text-based dialogue by India and South Africa.
The US and China have also supported India’s stand as well as the arguments that were put forward by South Africa to start talks immediately.
The new Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa earlier this month.
It has been designated a “type of concern” by the WHO. However, the United Nations Health Agency has stated that it is “not yet clear whether omicron is more transmitted (for example, spreads more easily from person to person)” or whether infection with the “other variant”. causes more severe disease than infection with forms, including delta”.
“Researchers in South Africa and around the world are conducting studies to better understand many aspects of omicron and will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available.” Said it on November 28,
EU, UK remain opposed to the move
At Monday’s meeting, the EU again spoke of a high level of engagement and potential areas of convergence, saying that the right approach after the postponement of MC12 is to search for bases where landing areas can be found.
The European Union has been opposed to waiving IPRs from COVID vaccines and drugs since the start of the pandemic.
The European Group reiterated its view that it is possible to find a solution on intellectual property that “responds to the need to increase production and diversification of COVID-19 products, as well as the protections needed to encourage technology transfer and investment.” holds on. in research and innovation”.
Similarly, the UK and Switzerland said that intellectual property protection will also play an important role in addressing new coronavirus variants and future pandemics.
(Edited by Amit Upadhyay)
Read also: The omicron variant may have emerged from an AIDS patient with long-term covid, scientists suspect.
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