Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) calls the WTO’s inability to agree on a TRIPS waiver a devastating global failure.
“We are disappointed that a true intellectual property waiver, proposed in October 2020 covering all COVID-19 medical tools and including all countries, could not be agreed, even during a pandemic that has claimed more than 15 million people’s lives.” -- Dr. Christos Christou, International President of MSF
The World Trade Organiazation (WTO) concluded the 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva on June 17 with agreements on a number of issues, among them a response to emergencies, including a waiver of certain requirements concerning compulsory licensing for COVID-19 vaccines. However, this agreement falls far short of the comprehensive TRIPS waiver proposed in 2020 by India and South Africa. Click here to read the full response from Dr. Christos Christou of Médecins sans Frontières.
