<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="position: relative; min-height: 100%;" class=""><div class="nH" style="width: 1407px;"><div class="nH" style="position: relative;"><div class="nH aqk aql bkL" style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; position: relative;"><div class="nH bkK" style="overflow: hidden; -webkit-box-flex: 1; flex-grow: 1;"><div class="nH" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 16px; margin-bottom: 16px; overflow-y: hidden;"><div class="nH"><div class="nH ar4 z"><div class="aeI"><div class="AO" style="position: relative;"><div id=":3" class="Tm aeJ" style="overflow-y: scroll; padding-right: 0px; height: 721px;"><div id=":1" class="aeF" style="padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; min-height: 531px;"><div class="nH"><div class="nH" role="main"><div class="nH g"><table class="nH bAt iY Bs" cellpadding="0" role="presentation" style="border-spacing: 0px; 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line-height: 26px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 550px; width: 550px;" class=""><div style="line-height: 26px;" class=""><div style="line-height: 26px; margin-top: 16px;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; text-align: initial; width: 550px; word-break: break-word;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px;" class=""><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=79396&post_id=90601911&utm_source=post-email-title&isFreemail=false&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo3NjExMDQ2NywicG9zdF9pZCI6OTA2MDE5MTEsImlhdCI6MTY3MTE4MzY2MSwiZXhwIjoxNjczNzc1NjYxLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItNzkzOTYiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.1mKDLnhCPwm5kDOqwmtJ6l5Kt6V0fb70c3voihUSXb0" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id%3D79396%26post_id%3D90601911%26utm_source%3Dpost-email-title%26isFreemail%3Dfalse%26token%3DeyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo3NjExMDQ2NywicG9zdF9pZCI6OTA2MDE5MTEsImlhdCI6MTY3MTE4MzY2MSwiZXhwIjoxNjczNzc1NjYxLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItNzkzOTYiLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.1mKDLnhCPwm5kDOqwmtJ6l5Kt6V0fb70c3voihUSXb0&source=gmail&ust=1671299228822000&usg=AOvVaw2Ykpa3rmyfzQn2nCXOi1b8" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" class="">Hours to Deadline, Countries Remain Divided at WTO on Extending Temporary Easing of IP rules for COVID-19 Tests & Treatments</a></div></div></div></div><div dir="auto" style="line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 0px;" class=""><div style="line-height: 26px;" class=""><h3 style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 12px 0px 0px;" class="">Newsletter Edition #168 [The Curated Primer] </h3><table role="presentation" width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="height: 20px; margin: 1em 0px;" class=""><tbody class=""><tr class=""><td style="margin: 0px;" class=""><table role="presentation" width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class=""><tbody class=""><tr class=""><td style="margin: 0px;" class=""><table role="presentation" width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class=""><tbody class=""><tr class=""><td style="margin: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Text", "SF Pro Text", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Inter, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; text-decoration: unset; text-transform: uppercase;" class=""><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/bdee6bdd-1b38-4438-ba4e-071505e4bffb?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/bdee6bdd-1b38-4438-ba4e-071505e4bffb?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228822000&usg=AOvVaw1rmH1dc4DGIw2GJG2i66ze" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class="">PRITI PATNAIK</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr class=""><td style="margin: 0px;" class=""><table role="presentation" width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class=""><tbody class=""><tr class=""><td style="margin: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family: "SF Compact Text", "SF Pro Text", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Inter, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; text-decoration: unset; text-transform: uppercase;" class=""><time datetime="2022-12-16T09:40:56.512Z" class="">DEC 16</time></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td align="right" style="margin: 0px;" class=""></td></tr></tbody></table><br class=""></div></div><div dir="auto" style="line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 0px;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; text-align: initial; width: 550px; word-break: break-word;" class=""><div style="direction: ltr; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 1em;" class=""><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: center;" class=""></p></div><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Hi,</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Today we bring you an update on the anti-climax of the TRIPS Council discussions on easing IP rules for COVID-19 tests and treatments, beyond vaccines.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">This week, countries continue to be sharply divided not only on the crux of the extension decision, but also on how to proceed in 2023. When this story went to print, WTO members were making a last ditch effort to reach consensus on a draft report to be submitted to the General Council meeting. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">We will update the story on this webpage as the situation evolves. </p><div style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(224, 224, 224); border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(224, 224, 224); line-height: 26px; margin: 32px auto;" class=""><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-style: italic; line-height: 26px; margin: 32px 0px; text-align: center;" class=""><em class=""><strong class="">Like our work? Consider supporting our journalism that ensures nuance, detail, and accuracy. <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/48023a7b-aa33-4f22-b73e-43b4da560912?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/48023a7b-aa33-4f22-b73e-43b4da560912?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw2nmRu-p2opbR1EBAeqQNwV" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">Readers paying for our work</a> helps us meet our costs. Thank you for reading.</strong></em></p></div><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Until later!</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Best,</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Priti</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class=""><em class="">Feel free to write to us: <a href="mailto:patnaik.reporting@gmail.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class="">patnaik.reporting@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:genevahealthfiles@protonmail.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" class="">genevahealthfiles@protonmail.<wbr class="">com</a>; Follow us on Twitter: @filesgeneva</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: center;" class=""><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/394fb8b5-681f-4226-b2a4-16733b4dcd8f?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/394fb8b5-681f-4226-b2a4-16733b4dcd8f?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw2Z4ctq5pih_AWThPdL_brT" style="background-color: rgb(209, 0, 0); border: none; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; height: auto; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; opacity: 1; outline: none; padding: 12px 20px; white-space: nowrap; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; text-decoration: none !important;" class="">Donate to support our journalism</a></p><div style="line-height: 26px;" class=""><hr style="background-color: rgb(224, 224, 224); border: none; height: 1px; margin: 32px 0px; padding: 0px;" class=""></div><h1 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class="">I. STORY OF THE WEEK</h1><h1 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class=""><strong class="">Hours to Deadline, Countries Remain Divided at WTO on Extending Temporary Easing of IP rules for COVID-19 Tests & Treatments</strong></h1><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Uncertainty hung, hours before the deadline for deciding <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/7f35e674-134d-4127-a2f2-2e1cd261c20d?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/7f35e674-134d-4127-a2f2-2e1cd261c20d?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw2vpm9yWo2ruPMYe-pQzq7y" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">on the extension of temporary relaxation of certain IP rules</a> for COVID-19 tests and treatments. WTO members were divided on the way forward at the end of the six month process that was capped by a deadline of December 17, 2022. Not only was there no agreement to the decision, members also seem to disagree on the next steps ahead to resolve the impasse, according to Geneva based sources.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Last week, the Chair of the TRIPS Council, Ambassador Lansana Gberie of Sierra Leone, put forward a proposal under his responsibility [WTO Doc JOB/IP/65], suggesting the extension of the deadline for these discussions until June 30, 2023. The proposal is a draft status report, meant for submission to the General Council meeting next week [19-20 December, 2022] at the WTO. Some observers construed this suggestion for an additional six months, as unusual, given the urgency in addressing the burden of the pandemic in many developing countries.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Last week, the US <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/49432a31-ed64-433d-b054-56c1cfb98330?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/49432a31-ed64-433d-b054-56c1cfb98330?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw0OAZg7atUU8tRcWiUc9mm6" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">effectively threw in a spanner in these discussions</a> seeking more time by deciding to launch <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/5c92c416-caf2-49bc-adf3-95c8a60e37fa?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/5c92c416-caf2-49bc-adf3-95c8a60e37fa?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw0s1FpgduYgXiZ6KCLSDGvZ" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">an investigation</a> to gather more evidence in order to decide on the extension decision.</p><h4 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class="">THE TRIPS COUNCIL INFORMAL MEETING [DECEMBER 15, 2022]</h4><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Ahead of the discussions this week, the Chair had circulated a draft report on December 9. The text had reflected the lack of consensus to reach a decision on the extension. The Chair suggested continuing discussions in the TRIPS Council and report back to the General Council by 30 June 2023.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">At the TRIPS Council Informal meeting this week, some developing country members suggested changes to the draft, and did not agree with the version suggested by the Chair.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">The current draft version <strong class="">[JOB/IP/65/Rev.1]</strong> reads as following (this is a restricted document not available publicly yet):</p><blockquote style="border-left-width: 4px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(209, 0, 0); margin: 20px 0px;" class=""><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">The Chair of the Council for TRIPS proposes the attached amended draft to be adopted as the Council's report to the General Council scheduled for 19-20 December 2022.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">Amendments have been made in paragraphs 5 and 7.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">PARAGRAPH 8 OF THE MINISTERIAL DECISION ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT ADOPTED ON 17 JUNE 2022 REPORT TO THE GENERAL COUNCIL</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">1. Paragraph 8 of the Ministerial Decision on the TRIPS Agreement adopted on 17 June 2022 (the "Decision") provides that [n]o later than six months from the date of this Decision, Members will decide on its extension to cover the production and supply of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">2. Since the adoption of the Decision, Members have held discussions in this regard in formal and informal meetings of the TRIPS Council on 6 July, on 19 September, on 3 and 12-13 October, on 2 and 22 November, and on 6 [and 15] December 2022.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">3. Delegations have exchanged views, asked questions, and provided responses, clarifications, and information, including through new submissions circulated as documents RD/IP/49, IP/C/W/693, RD/IP/51 and IP/C/W/694. Delegations engaged actively and their detailed substantive exchanges helped clarify various aspects and nuances of positions.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">4. While delegations remain committed to the common goal of providing timely and secure access to high-quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medical technologies for all, disagreement persists on whether an extension of the Decision to cover the production and supply of COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics is necessary or appropriate to address any inequitable distribution of such COVID-19 related products.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">5. On 6 December 2022 a group of 65 Members tabled a proposal for the General Council to extend the Decision mutatis mutandis to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics. Other Members preferred to continue fact- and evidence-based discussions on whether there are IP- and TRIPS-related barriers to accessing COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics, and on the exact scope of a potential extension of the Decision.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">6. This means that there is currently no consensus among Members to take a decision under paragraph 8 of the Decision.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">7. In light of the above, discussions in the TRIPS Council will continue and will be reported to the General Council no later than 30 June 2023.</em></p></blockquote><h4 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class="">RESERVATIONS BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES</h4><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">As the above current draft text shows, members disagree on the fundamental question on whether the extension is necessary and appropriate to address access to COVID-19 medical products. While the proponents asked to extend the Decision <em class="">mutatis mutandis</em> to tests and treatments, other countries, mostly developed ones, have sought time to furnish more facts and evidence to understand if IP is indeed a barrier in the access to COVID-19 medical products. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">(See our earlier story from last week: <em class=""><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/49432a31-ed64-433d-b054-56c1cfb98330?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/49432a31-ed64-433d-b054-56c1cfb98330?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw0OAZg7atUU8tRcWiUc9mm6" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">WTO could defer decision on COVID-19 tests & treatments, fueled by American resistance to ease IP rules</a></em>)</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Sources said that countries including Switzerland, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States were in favor of adopting the text as suggested by the Chair.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Members including South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Egypt and Tanzania on behalf of the African Group, suggested changes to the text of the draft report. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">They wanted a decision on the extension to be taken at the first General Council Meeting in 2023. They reportedly suggested : "discussions in the TRIPS Council will continue to decide on the extension to cover therapeutics and diagnostics by the first General Council in 2023."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">This group of developing countries also wanted “acknowledge the leading role of WHO in coordinating the global response in the fight against COVID-19 and therefore the WTO will benefit from the WHO's expertise and advice with regard to the global state of therapeutics of diagnostics", according to Geneva-based trade sources.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">According to sources, rich countries did not want a reference to WHO. They reportedly said that the discussion at the WTO has an intellectual property dimension, that goes beyond the remit of WHO. (See our earlier story: <em class=""><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/9ea7458a-3fcc-46b5-80af-00378383e7fe?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/9ea7458a-3fcc-46b5-80af-00378383e7fe?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw2KhcJZbC_ruh1IRaLY2odj" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">WHO Pushes for Better Access to COVID-19 Tests & Treatments at the WTO</a></em>)</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">At WHO, member states seem to be in principle agreeable to have the WHO as the leader in coordinating health emergencies, in the context of the Pandemic Accord discussions. Although, several developed countries made clear that WHO is not the forum to discuss intellectual property matters. (See our earlier story: <em class=""><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/377b3829-f507-465c-ab30-1037695daf61?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/377b3829-f507-465c-ab30-1037695daf61?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw2hHPStO6oQ-LbK4GoBaDTV" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">Emerging Fault Lines Suggest Tough Negotiations Ahead, As Countries Reveal Interests: WHO Pandemic Accord</a></em>)</p><h4 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class="">WHAT’S NEXT</h4><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">The chair reportedly regretted the lack of consensus on adopting the draft text. He suggested that a TRIPS Council meeting can be reconvened today, at short notice, on December 16, if differences are ironed out. Failing consensus, the Chair is said to have suggested that he would submit a report on his own responsibility, to the General Council meeting next week.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Developing countries who sought to introduce changes to the draft are keen on using the final hours of ahead of the December 17 deadline to shape the outcome in order to reflect the urgency of the pandemic.</p><div style="line-height: 26px; margin: 32px auto;" class=""><figure style="margin: 0px auto; width: 550px;" class=""><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class=""><tbody class=""><tr class=""><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" class=""></td><td align="left" width="1456" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" class=""><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/4505af08-78f6-4793-897a-fe29b6a217c3?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/4505af08-78f6-4793-897a-fe29b6a217c3?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw2C-ibNBTqJG09xkLHkfkHX" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); border: none; display: block; height: auto; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: auto;" class=""><img alt="" class="CToWUd" data-bit="iit" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto; vertical-align: middle; max-width: 100%; border: none !important;" apple-inline="yes" id="9F2D6F6C-C217-42C0-8431-C97C090569FE" src="cid:AF68A684-B5C2-41AA-B5D9-D980720BE8D0@hsd1.pa.comcast.net."></a></td><td style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" class=""></td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: -0.15px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 8px; padding-left: 82.5px; padding-right: 82.5px; text-align: center; width: 385px;" class="">Image credit: Monstera, Pexels</figcaption></figure></div><h4 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class=""><strong class="">NO EXTENSION AT ALL?</strong></h4><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Some sources familiar with the discussions have not ruled out that buying more time, as demanded by developed countries could ultimately result in no extension at all.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus indicated this week that he is hopeful that in 2023 COVID-19 would no longer be a global health emergency.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">“At this time a year ago, COVID-19 was killing 50,000 people a week. Last week, less than 10,000 people lost their lives…There is still a lot that all countries can do to save lives. But we have come a long way. We are hopeful that at some point next year we will be happy to say that COVID 19 is no longer a global health emergency,” Tedros said in Geneva this week. The WHO Emergency Committee is expected to meet in January 2023 to discuss among other issues, the criteria that will determine the end to the pandemic, he added.</p><h4 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class=""><strong class="">CALLS TO SUPPORT THE EXTENSION GROW LOUDER</strong></h4><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">This week, more than 160 charities, NGOs, campaigners, academics, and health and trade experts from 50 countries <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1eb44c39-a9f5-4d68-bcfe-12a71bd54b55?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/1eb44c39-a9f5-4d68-bcfe-12a71bd54b55?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw24S-gN3C5mzpVh6xoXlDIV" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">called on</a> the WTO to ease patents for COVID-19 tests and treatments before the end of 2022.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">In a <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/eb1bc0d5-d2c9-44ce-a9e8-c732b36c5b92?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/eb1bc0d5-d2c9-44ce-a9e8-c732b36c5b92?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw3DMC36XnkHIh142z37fF9z" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">letter</a>, they warn that the WTO “failed the world” in June with an agreement on vaccines that waived few intellectual property rules and did nothing to mandate the transfer of vaccine technology to lower-income countries. “Despite warm words from many Western leaders,” signatories say, “there was no evidence of solidarity at the WTO.”</p><div style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(224, 224, 224); border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(224, 224, 224); line-height: 26px; margin: 32px auto;" class=""><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-style: italic; line-height: 26px; margin: 32px 0px; text-align: center;" class="">Valentina Montanaro, Global Campaign Head of the People’s Vaccine Alliance, said: “Countries in the Global South should not have to wait for the United States to conduct a lengthy internal review before they can protect their populations. Another delay would be an insult to all those who have died from COVID-19 without access to effective medical tools. The WTO Director-General must step in and insist on a resolution this year. “</p></div><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">In a statement, the People’s Vaccine Alliance has said:</p><blockquote style="border-left-width: 4px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(209, 0, 0); margin: 20px 0px;" class=""><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">“We are very concerned about the lack of Decision at the TRIPS Council meeting on the 6th of December and the proposed delay on this urgent matter until June 2023….</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">The WTO has the power and opportunity to help developing countries control the virus by expanding the June 2022 Decision on vaccine intellectual property to cover tests and therapeutics by the 17th December 2022 deadline agreed by WTO member countries.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">The WTO played an important role in the global response to the HIV crisis through the Doha declaration; a landmark WTO agreement that established that public health supersedes commercial interest. This step forward was made possible by WTO members coming together to negotiate in good faith to reach such a compromise.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">We, the People’s Vaccine Alliance, believe that despite its significant limitations, the Decision could still help to diversify manufacturing and improve affordable access if extended to tests and treatments. This is the case because, in contrast to COVID-19 vaccines, technology transfer and a full waiver of intellectual property barriers are not necessary for generic medicine producers to make and export ample supplies of affordable treatments and tests.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">Put simply, after failing the world in June of this year, the WTO is getting a second chance to make a meaningful impact in the fight against COVID-19 before the end of 2022. It has been almost three years since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Hundreds of millions of people remain unvaccinated in developing countries, facing the disease without treatment or protection.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">…Hundreds of new treatments are in the pipeline with scores in final trials, but they will remain out of reach without action from the WTO.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">We urge you to publicly resist the deliberate attempts from rich nations to delay negotiations beyond 2022. Any delay would be a damaging blow to the WTO’s credibility.”</em></p></blockquote><h4 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 1.125em; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class="">PRESSURE FROM MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:</h4><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Scores of MEPs this week, <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/cbe4551a-6aff-455e-9c4e-b789a72380a3?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/cbe4551a-6aff-455e-9c4e-b789a72380a3?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw0XZ4Jo-A8Pi5i1BErTddRX" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">sent a letter of support</a> for a wide TRIPS Waiver calling on Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the European Commission, and the members of the Council of the European Union. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">On the June Ministerial decision, the letter said, “The Decision not only fell short of the ambition of the waiver proposed by South Africa and India, and the EP Resolution in November 2021 calling on the EC to support a wide TRIPS waiver, for vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, it also restricts its scope to only vaccines, with a six- month deadline to decide whether to extend the decision to therapeutics and diagnostics.”</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Excerpts from the letter:</p><blockquote style="border-left-width: 4px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(209, 0, 0); margin: 20px 0px;" class=""><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">“Access to COVID-19 therapeutics and diagnostics remains unequal, with a number of low and middle income countries (LMIC) facing a lack of necessary tools for accurate diagnosis and treatments despite voluntary licenses granted by pharmaceutical companies.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">On 14 September 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reminded that widespread testing remains key to reduce deaths, reduce onward transmission and track the evolution of the pandemic globally. Yet testing in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) is significantly lower than in high income countries due in part to limited supply of diagnostic tests to low and middle income countries and lack of equipment adapted and affordable for low-resource settings.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">Patent protection on Covid-19 diagnostic (e.g. CIRSPR and PCR) have inhibited expansion of production to LMICs. Limited manufacturing capacities, linked to patent-based market exclusivity, hindered the necessary scale up of production of vaccines. This could happen again, especially with therapeutics and last-generation diagnostics.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">As members of the European Parliament we would like to emphasize that EU Institutions have already repeatedly signaled support for a product scope covering at least vaccines and therapeutics.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">The European Commission emphasized the use of compulsory licensing for equitable global access to COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines in its June 2021 Communication to WTO. The Council of the European Union published a draft decision in November 2021 explicitly referring to the use of the TRIPS flexibilities for COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. The European Parliament also called on the European Commission to support a wide TRIPS waiver, at MC12 for vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;" class=""><em class="">We therefore would like to urge you to maintain the past positions with support of a broader product scope of the TRIPS decision.”</em></p></blockquote><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class="">Also see a <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/3244b87c-e83a-4286-a2a6-e3d597b76ee2?j=eyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI" rel="" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://substack.com/redirect/3244b87c-e83a-4286-a2a6-e3d597b76ee2?j%3DeyJ1IjoiMTliYjduIn0.bk8Qlm3y2GXta1zMwpMY8y23dzGOnypGAQRqFX1IMeI&source=gmail&ust=1671299228823000&usg=AOvVaw0h79Rhsikqc-cH9V-M8Y1v" style="color: rgb(209, 0, 0); text-decoration: none;" class="">recent analysis</a> from the Center for Global Development: <em class="">Tough Pills to Swallow: Challenges and Priority Actions for the Rollout of COVID-19 Treatments and Future Access to Medical Countermeasures.</em></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;" class=""></p><h1 style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em;" class=""><br class=""></h1></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br class=""></body></html>