WTO’s TRIPS Council met informally last week on June 19, 2020 to consider the implications of the pandemic for council related work and its future agenda, IP measures taken in the context of COVID19 and continuing positions on non-violation and situation complaints. It is interesting to take note of the range of IP measures taken in the context of the pandemic.  Delegations were invited to share information and best practices on intellectual property measures taken in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The WTO secretariat has drawn up a non-exhaustive of IP measures compiled from official sources. “It represents an … Continue reading WTO: COVID19 – Measures regarding trade-related intellectual property rights

In the last ruling of the Appellate Body, the international trade court at WTO, backed Australia on the long-running disputes on tobacco plain packaging requirements. The AB essentially upheld a previous dispute panel ruling – rejecting claims from Honduras and the Dominican Republic that Australia’s tobacco “plain packaging” measures are inconsistent with WTO rules. This is significant for public health and a big win for the fight against non-communicable diseases. But I believe, was to be expected given the way this issue was also dealt with in other forums.   The ruling is also a somber reminder of the realities … Continue reading WTO’s AB backs Australia on tobacco plain packaging

Civil society organizations continue to push for binding commitments on “equitable access to any effective technologies developed with regards to COVID-19”. The letter sent earlier this month to WHO, its member states and UNITAID signed by 86 civil society organizations can be read here. CSOs pointed out the the lack of governance mechanisms and binding commitments for equitable access and sharing of technology, knowledge and data, management and licensing of intellectual property for medical tools to fight the pandemic. “Funding and voluntary approaches for intellectual property (IP) licensing alone are not sufficient to guarantee that life-saving health technologies and medical … Continue reading Civil Society Push for Binding Commitments on Access to COVID-19 Tech

Now is the time to be talking about “feminist foreign policy,” because protectionist trade practices are hurting access to Personal Protective Equipment for health workers. I also discuss #India‘s grassroots workers. First published in Think Global Health. Read here Continue reading Feminist Foreign Policy and COVID-19

First published by International Health Policies If the world needed proof of international cooperation in the midst of the ever-widening gulfs between increasingly nationalistic democracies, it got one – the first ever virtual World Health Assembly that concluded 19th May. Not only did capitals express solidarity (many, dialling in from cloistered chambers), there was a resounding support for treatments and vaccines as global public goods. Country after country showed up on screens worldwide, some measured, some proud, many humbled. Most of them, had one consistent message – to make treatments and vaccines to fight the pandemic available for all. This is … Continue reading A strong call for COVID-19 treatments & vaccines to be global public goods – WHA73

The U.S. might push for new language on incentivising innovation to the existing draft resolution. Sources told Geneva Health Files, that the U.S. has expressed reservations on the draft COVID-19 response resolution and is proposing additional language on “incentivising innovation”. While, it is not clear whether this means that the silence procedure has been broken. (The World Health Assembly (WHA) had already considered the adoption of special procedures for the conduct of de minimis meetings) The suggestion expressed by the U.S. for an additional paragraph articulating protection for intellectual property rights may come for discussion when the resolution will be … Continue reading U.S. likely to propose language on incentivising innovation: COVID-19 resolution at WHA 73

WHO said today, it intends to formalize Costa Rica’s proposal for what has loosely been referred to as the COVID-19 technology pool. This is expected to be a “voluntary” mechanism. The voluntary nature of this “platform” is being seen as a dampener for the goal of equitable access in defeating this pandemic, by some stakeholders. In its letter dated March 24th  (first published by KEI), Costa Rica had suggested: “The creation of a repository of existing knowledge related to diagnostic tests, devices, drugs or vaccines, which would be available in the form of patents, both granted and in process; test … Continue reading The COVID-19 Voluntary IP Platform

I was happy to be a part of this civil society meeting today, organized by the Geneva Global Health Hub discussing multilateralism in global health and, specifically, whether the World Health Assembly continues to be the most relevant forum to negotiate global public health particularly in a major global health crisis. This closed door meeting was set up as a protected space for civil society brainstorming and strategizing, and was therefore broadcast or recorded. Continue reading The legitimacy of the World Health Assembly