Patent battles could choke coronavirus drugs pipeline: Carlos Correa

Correa is executive director, South Centre, an inter-governmental organisation which works on various issues affecting developing countries such as climate change, food security, etc

New Delhi: India and South Africa are currently leading a call at the World Trade Organization (WTO) for intellectual property (IP) exemptions on items like diagnostic kits, vaccines, medicines, personal protective equipment and ventilators required to fight Covid-19. These exemptions from the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement would mean that WTO member countries would not necessarily need to grant or enforce intellectual property rights related to Covid-19 drugs, vaccines, diagnostics and other technologies.

According to the submission by the governments of India and South Africa, the waiver ought to