The fading mirage of a TRIPS waiver
Down To Earth|October 16, 2021
A year later, the proposal to lift WTO’s intellectual property blocks to making COVID vaccines has not inched forward
Latha Jishnu
The fading mirage of a TRIPS waiver

THERE WAS barely any excitement when Australia came out in support of a waiver of intellectual property rights (IPRS) by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on vaccines, treatments and diagnostic devices needed to fight the covid-19 pandemic. Trade Minister Dan Tehan’s announcement just a couple of weeks before the waiver proposal hit its anniversary—after a dismal year of inaction by WTO even as millions died following the outbreak of sars-cov-2—caused hardly a blip. The cardiograph charting the waiver proposal's progress has been flat since it was first proposed by South Africa and India on October 2, 2020, barring the time when the Joe Biden administration caused a sensation— unwarrantedly, this column has argued—with its backing for a limited waiver on vaccines in May this year.

So now Australia has joined over 100 other countries in seeking a limited waiver of IPRS that are enshrined in the trips agreement of WTO. Does it really matter? Only a dogged optimist would say it does. For all one knows, it could be just a kite-flying exercise, since Tehan made Canberra’s shift instance known at a meeting with community organisations. Just a month earlier, Tehan had been singing the usual paeans to the role of IPRS in promoting innovation and had put it on record that the government felt voluntary mechanisms were the best option for increasing access to vaccines. In a letter written to community organisations, the minister had cited the scarcity of raw materials and the lack of manufacturing capacity as major barriers to increased production of vaccines. It also pointed to the key role of intellectual property protections in encouraging the development of new vaccines and tests and treatments.

This story is from the October 16, 2021 edition of Down To Earth.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 16, 2021 edition of Down To Earth.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM DOWN TO EARTHView All
In leading role again
Down To Earth

In leading role again

MOVIES AND WEB SERIES ARE ONCE AGAIN BEING SET IN RUSTIC BACKGROUNDS, INDICATING A RECONNECT BETWEEN CINEMA AND THE COUNTRYSIDE

time-read
5 mins  |
December 16, 2024
One Nation One Subscription comes at a huge cost
Down To Earth

One Nation One Subscription comes at a huge cost

As top US universities scrap big deals with top scientific publishers, India’s ONOS scheme seems flawed and outdated

time-read
4 mins  |
December 16, 2024
Return of Rambhog
Down To Earth

Return of Rambhog

Bid to revive and sell the aromatic indigenous paddy variety has led to substantial profits for farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Terai region

time-read
4 mins  |
December 16, 2024
Scarred by mining
Down To Earth

Scarred by mining

Natural springs of Kashmir drying up due to illegal riverbed mining

time-read
5 mins  |
December 16, 2024
Human-to-human spread a mutation away
Down To Earth

Human-to-human spread a mutation away

CANADA IN mid-November confirmed its first human case of avian influenza, with a teenager in the British Columbia being hospitalised after contracting the H5N1 virus that causes the disease. The patient developed a severe form of the disease, also called bird flu, and had respiratory issues. There was no known cause of transmission.

time-read
1 min  |
December 16, 2024
True rehabilitation
Down To Earth

True rehabilitation

Residents of Madhya Pradesh's Kakdi village take relocation as an opportunity to undertake afforestation, develop sustainable practices

time-read
2 mins  |
December 16, 2024
INESCAPABLE THREAT
Down To Earth

INESCAPABLE THREAT

Chemical pollution is the most underrated and underreported risk of the 21st century that threatens all species and regions

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 16, 2024
THAT NIGHT, 40 YEARS AGO
Down To Earth

THAT NIGHT, 40 YEARS AGO

Bhopal gas disaster is a tragedy that people continue to face

time-read
8 mins  |
December 16, 2024
A JOKE, INDEED
Down To Earth

A JOKE, INDEED

A CONFERENCE OF IRRESPONSIBLE PARTIES THAT CREATED AN OPTICAL ILLUSION TO THE REALITY OF A NEW CLIMATE

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 01, 2024
THINGS FALL APART
Down To Earth

THINGS FALL APART

THE WORLD HAS MADE PROGRESS IN MITIGATING EMISSIONS AND ADAPTING TO CLIMATE IMPACTS. BUT THE PROGRESS REMAINS GROSSLY INADEQUATE

time-read
4 mins  |
December 01, 2024