Covid vaccines: Should global political leaders abandon patent protections? – BBC Newsnight

Newsnight has learned countries in the WHO have agreed they need to consider sidestepping patents to help with global vaccine supplies. Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog

As the World Health Organisation officials have warned the world is on the brink of a "catastrophic moral failure" because of unequal Covid vaccine policies, pressure is growing on pharmaceutical companies to be forced to waive the patent protections on their vaccines.
 
India and South Africa are part of a group of countries who have been arguing they need to be able to make their own vaccines without getting a license first.
 
Newsnight has seen a document revealing that for the first time countries in the World Health Organisation have agreed they need to consider moving on patents to help with global vaccine supplies.
 
Should global political leaders abandon patent protections?
 
Newsnight’s Health Correspondent Deb Cohen reports. Emma Barnett is joined by former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, now chair of The Elders, Mary Robinson and Director-General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations, Thomas Cueni.

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