Covid-19: US, EU, India, South Africa reach compromise on vaccine IP waiver text

A draft compromise agreement on waiving intellectual property (IP) rights for Covid-19 vaccines between India, the US, the EU and South Africa is likely to be signed soon, according to a media report.

Developing countries including India have been trying to get a waiver for IP rights at the WTO Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for waiving IP rights to ensure universal access for Covid-19 vaccines.

India's waiver application covers vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for prevention, containment or treatment of Covid-19, according to the report.

“Whether America’s support of the waiver will have impact on people’s lives in India depends on a number of factors, such as how quickly the negotiations move and what the terms of the final waiver are,” Priti Radha Krishtel, co-founder of Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK), was quoted in the report.

Madhu Pai of McGill University, said the draft agreement has come too late and is not strong enough.