World Health Organisation (WHO) Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan on Monday (local time) said that the global health body strongly believes that Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) waiver to COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) should be done. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Swaminathan said: "WHO strongly believes that the TRIPS waiver that has been proposed by India and South Africa should be done. In October last year, India and South Africa, along with 57 members of WTO proposed a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS agreement for prevention, containment, and treatment of COVID-19. Trade experts say WTO negotiations on a waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines could take months - provided they can overcome significant opposition from some member countries. This requires the production of effective tools and technologies to fight COVID-19 at scale and coordinated global distribution efforts.

Source: Mint May 11, 2021 00:17 UTC