ACCESS TO MEDICINES IRELAND CALLS FOR POSITIVE RESPONSE TO U.S. TRADE MOVE ON COVID-19 VACCINES
PRESS RELEASE.
6th May 2021.
Leading Irish campaign group, Access to Medicines Ireland, has welcomed news that the US administration will support the campaign to waive intellectual property (IP) rights for COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Access to Medicines Ireland expects that this new US policy will be a catalyst for change among Irish and EU leaders, and the global pharmaceutical industry and could be a turning point in achieving global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
"This announcement by the US Trade Representative Ambassador, Katherine Tai, is historic and it is a tribute to the Biden administration and campaigners across the United States," said Access to Medicines Ireland co-founder, Dr. Kieran Harkin.
"Equally, it is a tribute to campaigners across the world who were determined that the mistakes of the past during the HIV pandemic - when access to life-saving medicines was blocked by intellectual property barriers - would not be repeated during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Ireland and Europe must row in behind the USA and support the waiver if we are to remain on the right side of history.
“Now that this paradigm shift has happened in trade relations, we are optimistic that Ireland and the EU will follow suit and support the waiver of IP rights for COVID-19 vaccines.
"However, it is also vital that there is cooperation from the pharmaceutical industry so that technology and expertise is shared with new vaccine manufacturers around the world, and that regulatory approval for their products can be gained more quickly.
“We ask the pharmaceutical industry to show a spirit of generosity and leadership in this regard, given the extraordinary global demands of the pandemic.
"Furthermore, it is vital in our view that the temporary waiver of IP rights at the WTO should remain focused on treatments and diagnostics for COVID-19, and not just vaccines.”
The proposal to waive certain intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, medicines and diagnostics - known as the 'TRIPS Waiver' at the WTO - was first proposed by India and South Africa in October, 2020, and has since gained the support of countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and now the USA.
Notably, in contrast to the US statement yesterday, the original WTO proposal by India and South Africa proposes to waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 treatments and diagnostics, as well as vaccines. Discussions on the waiver proposal are ongoing at the WTO level and it remains to be seen how this recent US announcement may affect such discussions.
Access to Medicines Ireland member, Dr. Aisling McMahon, an Assistant Professor in Law, Maynooth University and expert on intellectual property law, explained that to achieve global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as possible, a number of further barriers must also be addressed.
“The US support for the TRIPS Waiver could be a key catalyst for change in this area. It is a historic moment and greater support for the TRIPS waiver is a first, but important, step for global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines," said Dr. McMahon.
“However, alongside the waiver to ensure global equitable access, there must also be support for the sharing of know-how and technology transfer to enable greater manufacturing of vaccines all over the world. Moreover, regulatory barriers will also need to be addressed in this context.
“The Irish Government could show immediate leadership in this area by joining other countries in supporting the TRIPS waiver proposal, and alongside this by implementing the recommendations of the recent report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. These recommendations also included that Ireland move to formally endorse the WHO's COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) which would facilitate the sharing of know-how and technology transfer for COVID-19 vaccines, and this alongside support for the waiver would facilitate more timely access to COVID-19 vaccines.”
"The US announcement yesterday is a historic moment and we hope it will be a catalyst for change in how the world responds to treating this, and future pandemics, on a more equitable basis,” continued Dr. McMahon.
“It is vital that countries, companies and people everywhere act in solidarity to bring COVID-19 under control - sharing intellectual property rights, data and know-how over COVID-19 health technologies is a key part of this solidarity.”
Access to Medicines Ireland calls upon the Irish Government and the European Union to support the USA and other countries who propose a temporary suspension of IP rights at the WTO for COVID-19 health-technologies.
It also calls for the waiver to include treatments and diagnostics, as well as vaccines, in order to tackle COVID-19 and get the pandemic under control everywhere.
It further calls for the Irish Government to implement the recommendations of the recent report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries.
ENDS.
Contacts:
Dr. Aisling McMahon
Email: Aisling.Mcmahon@mu.ie
Dr. Kieran Harkin
Email: drkharkin@inchicoredoctors.ie
Further quotes:
In response to the US announcement of its support for the waiver, President Michael D. Higgins tweeted: “This decision marks a moment of immense moral significance in international policy, putting public health need ahead of any narrow considerations.”
While the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted: “This is a monumental moment in the fight against #COVID19 ………a powerful example in leadership to address global health challenges.”