Oxfam reaction to WTO TRIPS council agreement to engage in a text-based process on waiving Intellectual Property rules on COVID vaccines, test and treatments

“This move to text-based negotiations is good news, because it means all member states acknowledge that pharmaceutical monopolies are blocking access to life saving vaccines for millions of people and that this needs to be addressed.

“However, it is shameful that in the midst of a pandemic it has taken eight long painful months and 2.7 million deaths from COVID-19 for a handful of rich country government blockers to finally agree to enter formal text based negotiations on this life saving proposal.

“Despite rising infections and the lack of vaccine stock in Africa and other regions of the world, the UK and Germany continue to be major blockers of the waiver. On the eve of the G7 summit, the UK and Germany must urgently reconsider their opposition to the waiver and let the world know they support people over profit hungry pharmaceutical corporations.”

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For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Sarah Dransfield in the Oxfam Press Office, on 07884 114825 / sdransfield@oxfam.org.uk

Notes to editors:

The TRIPS waiver proposal was first presented to the WTO on 2nd October 2020. Since then to June 8th 2021 there have been a recorded 2.67 million deaths from COVID-19 worldwide.

WTO delegates agreed an urgent timetable to move negotiations forward ahead of the next General Council meeting in July.