The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted immense harm to health and economies worldwide. Vaccination offers a way out of the pandemic, yet production of vaccines and other health products has been insufficient to meet unparalleled global demand.
In this context, momentum has built behind a waiver of provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to address intellectual property barriers affecting the scale-up of production of health commodities.
This session is organized by the Centre of Universal Health as part of the WTO Public Forum. It examines the debate surrounding TRIPS waivers as a mechanism to expand the supply of health commodities.
- How has TRIPS historically operated in health crises?
- How might waivers be used to expand production in a pandemic?
- What might the downsides be?
It also considers alternative or additional efforts that could be required, and discusses the implications of TRIPS waivers for incentives to innovate and the future of the global intellectual property system.
Participants
Chair: Robert Yates, Director, Global Health Programme; Executive Director, Centre for Universal Health
Tahir Amin, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, I-MAK
The Rt Hon. Sir Robin Jacob, Hugh Laddie Professor of Intellectual Property Law and Director of the Institute of Brand and Innovation Law, University College London
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon & Biocon Biologics
Leena Menghaney, Global IP Advisor, MSF Access Campaign
