Download full text
(external source)
Citation Suggestion
Please use the following Persistent Identifier (PID) to cite this document:
https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v11i1.6177
Exports for your reference manager
The WTO and the Covid‐19 "Vaccine Apartheid": Big Pharma and the Minefield of Patents
[journal article]
Abstract
Unequal access to vaccines for the Covid-19 pandemic, also referred to as "vaccine apartheid," has marginalized low-income countries again. In October 2020, India and South Africa proposed a temporary waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention of Covid-19 at the World T... view more
Unequal access to vaccines for the Covid-19 pandemic, also referred to as "vaccine apartheid," has marginalized low-income countries again. In October 2020, India and South Africa proposed a temporary waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention of Covid-19 at the World Trade Organization (WTO). An agreement was later reached in Geneva on June 17, 2022. The objective of this article is to analyze the negotiation and agreement reached at the WTO. This article explores the difficulties of creating international public good in the field of public health within the milieu of powerful actors, namely big pharmaceutical companies with vested interests. The central argument of this article is that this agreement alone will not solve the vaccine access problem for low-income countries. It is too restrictive, does not cover trade secrets and know-how, production capacity, availability of raw materials, and even adds new limitations that did not exist before. The best option to promote the production of quality vaccines in low-income countries is to share technology and know-how on a voluntary basis through production agreements. One way to facilitate the cooperation of large pharmaceutical corporation is to make it easier for low-income countries to use compulsory licenses. Simplifying the use of this mechanism could help encourage pharmaceutical companies to enter into voluntary licensing agreements.... view less
Keywords
vaccination; WTO; international agreement; pharmaceutical industry; intellectual property; patent; public health
Classification
Economic Policy
Law
Free Keywords
Big Pharma; Covid vaccine; TRIPS Agreement; World Trade Organization; intellectual property rights; waiver of patents
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 261-271
Journal
Politics and Governance, 11 (2023) 1
Issue topic
Re-Embedding Trade in the Shadow of Populism
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed