‘Governments that are serious about access to vaccines need to approve the TRIPS waiver’ Ramaphosa

In the margins of the European Union-African Union Summit, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the first six countries that will receive the technology needed for the production of mRNA vaccines on the African continent: Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. The EU is the main contributor to this initiative. As welcome as the initiative is, African leaders continue to call for the waiving of intellectual property rights (IP), the so-called TRIPS* waiver. 

“We cannot continue being consumers of medical countermeasures for disease produced at high prices that are not affordable to our continent,” South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has led Africa’s response to the pandemic, said. “Governments that are really serious about ensuring that the world has access to vaccines should ensure that we approve the TRIPS waiver.”

Ramaphosa accused others of hiding behind intellectual property to protect the profits of companies rather than protecting the lives of millions. However, the EU has sent over 11 billion vaccines to Africa (as a whole) and an estimated 9 billion have been administered, there appears to be other barriers to the distribution and administration of the vaccines. 

“I think the emphasis has to be on technology transfer,” countered European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “The goal is really to make sure that the technology is transferred and dismantled and shown in full scope. And for that, we think that compulsory licensing with a deep cut in profits might be a bridge to get there.”

However, von der Leyen pointed out that IP was not the only issue. Africa’s regulatory environment is currently being developed with an African Medicines Agency and Centre for Disease Control. It was also a question of building up wider skills. 

Ramaphosa said that organizations like COVAX and GAVI should commit to buying their vaccines from local hubs once they get going, arguing that this is the sustainable option in the medium to long term. 

President of France Emmanuel Macron said that IP shouldn’t obstruct the distribution of vaccines, he suggested that compulsory licensing could provide a way forward. 

*Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights a treaty formed in the World Trade Organisation. 

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