Patent rights on medicines and vaccines should be waived off  

Ludhiana: Deciding to raise voice for waiving off Patent rights on medicines, the IDPD formalized action plan to launch nationwide campaign on “Medicines for All – Vaccines for All”. The decision was taken in a webinar organized by the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development IDPD on “ Patent Free Medicines”. Participants from all parts of the country took part in the webinar deliberations. Inaugurating the event    
  
Dr Vandana Shiva, a crusader for equity in trade practices and abolition of patent laws in medicine and agriculture warned that it is not just the medicines or the vaccines, the Multi National Corporations (MNCs) have patented each and every product. It is astonishing to note that even the bacteria and viruses including the Corona Virus have been patented. This denies the right of a person, a community or country over its own produce. She said that the earlier process patent was changed into product patent under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) regime. As a result the developing countries are under several constraints to develop cheap medicines. She contended the claim of the MNCs that they are doing research and so have the right to earn profit. Most of the research done worldwide is by the Public institutions and through public funding, she said.  Bill Gates who till date had the image of a philanthropist stands exposed as  a thoroughly insensitive businessman who wants to make huge profit in this hour of global health crises by denying the transfer of vaccine technology to the developing countries. This has to be changed through public movements and the governments have to be forced not to work under the diktats of corporations or persons like Bill Gates. Several participants who took part in the discussion criticized callousness of our government in regard to preparations for the pandemic despite information about it. The failure to provide oxygen, medicines and other equipment led to death of several people. The policy on vaccines has utterly failed. There is need to develop indigenous vaccines. The Public Sector Units engaged in the work for a long time should be reopened. The Webinar decided to launch a campaign “Medicines for All – Vaccines for All”. For this various likeminded organisations and persons will be brought together under one platform. Special emphasis will be laid on solidarity and coordination with the farmers as food security and health are the basics. The session was chaired by Dr S S Soodan – President IDPD. Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman – General Secretary initiated the discussion. Dr Arun Mitra Vice President IDPD summed up the discussion.