Will The COVID-19 Pandemic Shake Up Access To Medicines?

Companies Defend IP Rights System Amid Calls For Change

 
• By Francesca Bruce
  
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Public health advocates say that commercial concerns must take a back seat to health interests if COVID-19 technologies are to be made available to those who need them. But industry says that relaxing IP protections is not the solution and that many companies have already invested significant amounts of money in potential new treatments and vaccines.

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Health advocates say COVID-19 technologies must be accessible • Source: Shutterstock

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, “business as usual” approaches to access to medicines have come under attack, with health advocates calling for measures such as attaching affordability conditions to public financing of drugs. Industry representatives have rejected calls for change to intellectual property regimes, although they concede that responsible pricing is important.

Public health advocates worry that essential technologies for COVID-19 may not be accessible to those who need them. “We are...

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