WHO supports India's proposal against Vaccine Nationalisation.
                     WHO SUPPORTS INDIA''S 
PROPOSAL AGAINST VACCINE 
NATIONALISATION
INTRODUCTION
• Amid resistance from developed countries to India 
and South Africa's joint proposal at the World Trade 
Organization (WTO) to ensure universal access to 
coronavirus vaccines, World Health Organization 
(WHO) has voiced its support for the proposal.
Source: hindustantimes.com
WHO WELCOMES THE PROPOSAL
• WHO welcomes South Africa’s and India’s recent 
proposal to WTO to ease international and 
intellectual property agreements on covid-19 
vaccines, treatments and tests in order to make the 
tools available to all who need them at an affordable 
cost.
Source: livemint.com
WHO launched CTAP
• WHO launched the covid-19 Technology Access Pool 
(CTAP) in May, inviting countries to share data, 
knowledge and intellectual property on vital, life-
saving health products in the fight against the 
coronavirus.
Source: hindustantimes.com
What is CTAP?
• The COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) will 
compile, in one place, pledges of commitment made 
under the Solidarity Call to Action to voluntarily share 
COVID-19 health technology related knowledge, 
intellectual property and data.
Source: hindustantimes.com
TRIPS agreement
• In a submission before the TRIPS (Trade-Related 
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Council, India 
and South Africa urged WTO members for waiver of 
certain rules of TRIPS agreement.
Source: jagranjosh.com
What is TRIPS?
• Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
(TRIPS) covers most forms of intellectual property 
including copyright, patents, geographical indications, 
trademarks, industrial designs, trade secrets, and 
exclusionary rights over new plant varieties.
Source: hindustantimes.com
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES REJECTED THE 
PROPOSAL
• The proposal was taken up for discussion at the TRIPS 
Council meeting on 15-16 October where developed 
countries including the US, European Union, Canada, 
Japan, UK, Australia and Switzerland rejected the 
proposal.
• While African group countries, least developed 
countries, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal 
among other countries supported the proposal.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Stance of India
• India said that not a single patent holder has shown 
willingness to commit to the covid-19 Technology 
Access Pool (C-TAP) initiative launched under the 
aegis of WHO.
Source: hindustantimes.com
SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL
• As many as 379 civil society organisations 
including Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières 
(MSF) Access Campaign MSF, People’s Vaccine 
Alliance have written a letter to WTO members 
welcoming India and South Africa’s proposal 
citing existing supply-demand gaps in accessing 
medical products for covid-19, including access 
to diagnostic testing.
Source: financialtimes.com
SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL
• With entire health systems already 
overwhelmed by covid-19, the health budgets 
of many countries cannot sustain highly priced 
medical products. 
• These realities will also hinder production by 
any competent manufacturer and impede the 
full freedom to collaborate.
Source: thenewyorktimes.com