Waive IP Rights & Save Lives
Southviews No. 231, South Centre, 2021
Texas A&M University School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 21-59
14 Pages Posted: 12 Nov 2021 Last revised: 16 Dec 2021
Date Written: November 9, 2021
Abstract
In October of 2020, when India and South Africa proposed a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS agreement, it was meant to increase local manufacturing capacity in these countries although the waiver, in enabling vaccination of populations across the globe, would be critical to normalize global trade. The waiver was proposed as a tool to kick-start prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19. While there is an imminent need to meet a growing supply-demand gap for all medical products, COVID-19 related products are urgently required in poorer nations to contain the pandemic. The paper hopes to capture the benefits of the waiver and compares it with the existing flexibilities, being compulsory licensing.
Note:
Funding: I did not receive any funds for this paper.
Declaration of Interests: I have no competing interests to declare.
Keywords: trips, patents, pharmaceuticals, covid, access to medicines, IP Waiver, trade, MC2021
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation