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March 12, 2024
On the fourth anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), a coalition of 58 charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has issued a stark plea to the United States and the European Union, urging them to abandon what they term as “patent hypocrisy” to better equip the world to confront future pandemics.
Since its declaration in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted immense suffering, claiming the lives of over 7 million people worldwide. In response to the ongoing crisis and to mitigate the impact of future health emergencies, the WHO has been advocating for the establishment of a global pandemic treaty and the waiver of intellectual property (IP) rights, particularly concerning vaccines and test kits, among other essential medical supplies.
Despite these calls for solidarity and equitable access to healthcare resources, wealthy nations, including the US and EU, have consistently opposed measures aimed at relaxing IP rights. In an open letter coordinated by the People’s Vaccine Alliance, prominent organizations such as Oxfam, The African Alliance, Innovarte, and Public Citizen have accused US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of jeopardizing “the safety of all humanity in the next health crisis.”
The letter underscores the fundamental principle of equality, asserting that it is untenable to uphold different standards for Americans and Europeans compared to the rest of the world. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, wealthy nations have obstructed proposals to waive intellectual property rules on vaccines, tests, and treatments, resulting in an estimated 1.3 million lives lost by the end of 2021, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries.
The global health experts implore leaders to support measures outlined in the Pandemic Accord, including the removal of intellectual property barriers to ensure equitable access to essential healthcare resources. Additionally, they advocate for the integration of transparency into global health initiatives by publishing all government contracts with companies involved in public health efforts.
Furthermore, the coalition calls for the extension of the pandemic flu mechanism, which rewards countries that share pathogen data to monitor threats with benefits such as fair access to medicines and financial contributions.
As the world reflects on the devastating toll of the COVID-19 pandemic four years on, the urgent need for global solidarity and cooperation in confronting health emergencies remains paramount. The appeal from these global health experts underscores the critical importance of addressing systemic inequalities in access to healthcare resources to safeguard the health and well-being of all individuals, irrespective of nationality or socioeconomic status.
