Compromised TRIPS Waiver will prolong pandemic inequalities
As the COVID-19 pandemic turns two, access to medicines movements warn that a recent compromise deal on the TRIPS waiver allegedly outlined by the US, the EU, India and South Africa will not be enough to address existing inequities
European Union prefers corporate profits over the health of people across the world
By showing reluctance on the patent waiver on COVID-19-related products even after the majority of its population is vaccinated, the EU leadership has once again taken the side of Big Pharma and perpetuated vaccine apartheid
Twist in TRIPS waiver negotiations raises eyebrows
A small group of WTO members has been discussing a watered-down version of the TRIPS waiver, which would leave most of the Global South’s production capacities unused
“Big Pharma should not be the one calling the shots during the pandemic”
Fatima Hassan from Health Justice International talks about the TRIPS waiver proposal, vaccine apartheid, and the WTO’s role in pandemic response and recovery
The TRIPS waiver proposal is a workplace issue
Trade unions and health workers are increasing their pressure to make the small group of rich countries blocking the TRIPS waiver proposal back off
Why should health activists care about WTO’s agenda?
While the recently cancelled WTO Ministerial Council was supposed to discuss the TRIPS waiver, its agenda included other topics that should be taken seriously by health activists
WHO members states agree to form global treaty on pandemic response and other stories
Today we look at the WHO session on a global pandemic treaty, an IACHR ruling on the death of an El Salvadoran woman who was jailed after a miscarriage, and more
Global nurses coalition demands investigation against COVID-19 criminals
Nurses from 28 countries have filed a complaint in the UN alleging human rights violations by EU, UK, Norway, Switzerland, and Singapore for ‘the loss of countless lives’ in the pandemic.
The struggle for vaccine equity intensifies in Italy
The European Union has been at the forefront of the opposition that rich countries have shown towards the TRIPS waiver proposal for COVID-19 medical products. However, the EU’s position in the international arena is not shared by the people of Europe, who wish to see vaccines accessible in the Global South
In Europe, ‘Days of Shame’ highlights failure of leaders to back TRIPS waiver proposal for COVID vaccines
From October 9-13, activists organized actions to pressure the EU and various European countries to support the TRIPS waiver proposal, pointing out that people continue to die because governments do not want to stand up to Big Pharma
How health activists got Australia to back patent waiver on COVID-19 vaccines
Months-long campaigning and advocacy efforts have played a large part in mobilizing public opinion in favor of a TRIPS waiver for the vaccines. Australia was among the few member-nations in the WTO to oppose the waiver
Feminists for a People’s Vaccine: challenging barriers to equitable access
A newly launched campaign by the Third World Network and Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era highlights the questions of gender-based differences in access to Covid-19 vaccines, medicines, therapeutics and equipment
- Women in Croatia say enough to conservative obstruction of right to abortion
- Belgian workers demand scrapping of Wage Margin Act of 1996
- Protests surge against US-Greece agreement on bases
- Colombia decriminalizes medically assisted suicide for critically ill patients
- Teachers in Morocco on strike to protest legal persecution by authorities over protests
