Posted on 07 June 2022
The waiver of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) that was proposed 18 months ago by India and South Africa, has been redrafted following discussions with the United States and the European Union. The new version only applies to vaccines and does not include other essential health products.
The new waiver sets a precedent that will restrict the ability of countries with the capacity to mass produce therapeutics, diagnostics and even personal protective equipment. This would apply to the current Covid pandemic and for any future zoonotic outbreaks.