# \[e-drug\] Patent Protection and Access to Covid-19 Medical Products **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [August 13, 2021, 4:07am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-patent-protection-and-access-to-covid-19-medical-products/46529 "2021-08-13T04:07:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sudip\_Chaudhuri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Sudip\_Chaudhuri](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/Sudip_Chaudhuri)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 4:07am UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-patent-protection-and-access-to-covid-19-medical-products/46529/1 "2021-08-13T04:07:20Z")
E-DRUG: Patent Protection and Access to Covid-19 Medical Products --------------------------------------------------------------------- In the context of the IP waiver proposal submitted by India, South Africa and other developing countries to the World Trade Organization, I have reviewed the old debate relating to patent protection and access. Interested readers can access the paper using this link: [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353862453\_Patent\_Protection\_and\_Access\_to\_Covid-19\_Medical\_Products\_in\_Developing\_Countries\_O](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353862453_Patent_Protection_and_Access_to_Covid-19_Medical_Products_in_Developing_Countries_O) Abstract: Several new vaccines that have been developed for Covid-19 are patent protected. The patentees control the production, supply and pricing of these vaccines. Most people in low-income countries have been unable to access the vaccines. India and South Africa supported by a large number of developing countries have submitted a proposal to the TRIPS Council of the WTO requesting a temporary waiver to eliminate patent and other intellectual property barriers for the development, production and supply of all COVID-19 medical products. Nine months have passed since the proposal was first made in October 2020 but still no decision could be taken because of the opposition from developed countries. The disagreements essentially revolve around four issues: whether suspension of patent rights will act as a disincentive for the development of new medical products; whether patented products can be manufactured in the absence of manufacturing capacities; whether voluntary initiatives are better than a patent waiver; and whether a waiver is necessary in view of compulsory licensing and other measures which TRIPS permits. The paper briefly reviews these issues and also provides some suggestions about what developing countries can do to make Covid-19 medical products affordable and accessible. Sudip Chaudhuri Professor (Retd), Indian Institute of Management Calcutta Sudip Chaudhuri \