Minimal Government Thinkers is one of 31 independent, non-govt
think tanks around the world that signed this declaration, officially
launched last Monday, May 18 as officials of the WHO member-states gathered in Geneva for the World Health Assembly.
The 8-pages report is available here, https://geneva-network.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/A-Joint-Declaration-on-the-Importance-of-Collaboration_FINAL.pdf.
The seven main advocacies are:
1. Abolish tariffs on medical supplies and medicines
2. Reject export bans on medical supplies
3. Reduce customs red tape
4. Enable the free flow of relevant health data across
borders
5. Maintain transparency in collecting and sharing
epidemiological data
6. Increase cooperation with other countries to speed up
drug approval
7. Support innovation, including intellectual property
rights.
Concluding statements:
The IP system is working well in the pandemic. More than
140 experimental coronavirus treatments and vaccines are under development worldwide,
including 11 in clinical trials. Lifesciences companies everywhere are
searching their patent and molecular reference libraries for promising compounds – all of which owe their
existence to the patent system.
There is no evidence that IP rights will pose a barrier
to access, as most companies working in this area have stated any new products will be available
on a non-profit basis. This is welcome, although it is important as many organisations as possible
are incentivised to commit their resources to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.
Now is not the time to undermine IP rights. They underpin
the global medicine innovation ecosystem. Governments should therefore commit to
cooperating with the private sector in the quest for COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.
See also:
IPR and Innovation 44, Plain packaging on sweets, soda -- impact on investment and health, June 04, 2019
IPR and Innovation 45, PH IPR courts, BOI-IPO, GII 2019, August 6, 2019
IPR and Innovation 46, IP rules and Covid-19, April 17, 2020.
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