Ujjain: A national webinar on 'TRIPS and Vaccine Patent Waiver' was organised by Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and post-graduate department of economics of Government Girlsí Post-Graduate College (GGPGC).
In her address Dr Deepti Taneja, professor of economics, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University said, ìThis is not the first time that the demand for a patent waiver has been raised on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) platform which is an umbrella for the entire world engaged in international trade.
Similar demand was raised in 2000 when shortfall of vaccines was witnessed in the sub-Sahara African regions during the spread of AIDS and it resulted in the DOHA declaration under the Agreement of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) which provided for a compulsory license system requiring a patent holder nation to share its formula or brand with a predetermined license fee, she added.
She said that patent waiver will lead to license sharing without any fees has been demanded by India and Africa under a proposal, they requested WTO that its members waive four categories of IP rights-copyright, industrial designs, patents and undisclosed information under the TRIPS until the majority of the world population receives effective vaccines and develops immunity to Covid-19.
On the grounds of scaling up production and prevent cost enhancement they have further demanded patent waivers in treatment, diagnostics, medical devices, protective equipment and also material and components needed to produce them for three years from the date of implementation, she said.
Dr Taneja remarked that 308 entities are globally engaged in different stages of vaccine production and the meetings on this issue scheduled on 8 and 9 June may not be conclusive as only 63 nations have supported this proposal and veto power may play a crucial role in the 164-member WTO.
The major players in the vaccine production especially the European Union and Switzerland are opposing this proposal on the bases that the rival companies are cooperating only because of security of IP Rights and such waivers will rather suppress production, dissuade research and development for future generation vaccines to tackle newer variants of the virus, she added.
In her presidential address principal Dr Anita Manchandia said that all the aspects of TRIPS and multilateral trade are too complex and it should be the prime concern of the global community to look beyond political and economic interests to urgently facilitate vaccine availability to every single person of every nation in order to prevent any further loss of health and life. The thematic background was given by IQAC coordinator Dr Neeta Tapan. Welcome address was given by Dr Nancy Chauhan. The programme was conducted by Dr Samina Qureshi and vote of thanks was given by Dr Hemant Gahlot.
