India to seek US support on global patent waivers for more Covid gear

India will seek support for patent waivers on a wider range of Covid-19-related medical products from the US, which has backed such exemptions only for vaccines. While the US has supported the waiver only for vaccines – after having opposed the main proposal since last October – most developing countries favour the inclusion of vaccines, treatments, diagnostic kits, protective gear, ventilators and therapeutics.
India and South Africa proposed in October that all World Trade Organization members agree to a temporary waiver of certain provisions of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement in relation to the prevention, containment or treatment of Covid-19.