Africa Union's health watchdog has praised the United States' support for a waiver on patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines as a "remarkable expression of leadership". PHOTO | FILE | NMG
A new proposal, this time from the US, on how to open up access to vaccines against Covid-19 by relaxing patent rights, has added to an already complex and fraught debate between the World Trade Organisation’s 164 members.
This exemption plan is supported by more than 100 countries. It would allow states to bypass the monopoly of IP holders by authorising the production of cheaper generic drugs and other anti-Covid technologies. The waiver would be temporary, until the majority of the world’s population developed immunity.
