Swadeshi Jagran Manch launches campaign to make Covid vaccines and drugs patent-free

The corona crisis is almost over in six countries where the adult population has been almost fully vaccinated, such as Israel, America, United Kingdom etc. 

Therefore, immediate vaccination of the entire adult population of the world including India is necessary.  For this, Swadeshi Jagran Manch has launched a mass awareness campaign, seeking to make Covid vaccines and drugs patent-free, and to make their technology accessible to all producers capable of producing them. 

Under this, “Universal Access to Vaccines and Medicines” that is, UAVM has been started seeking complete access of vaccines and medicines across the country and the world.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch, Vidarbha Prant held a virtual press conference on June 1. Speakers were introduced by Anjali Mase, Nagpur Mahanagar Mahila Pramukh.  Vidarbha Prant convener  Shirish Tare explained the role of Swadeshi.  

Senior activists of the Manch, National Council member  Dhananjay Bhide elaborated that  in India about 200 crore doses are required to vaccinate at least 70% of the population.  For this there is an urgent need for large scale production, for which international technology will be needed. Measures would be required to facilitate the transfer of technology and to overcome the barriers related to intellectual property rights, including patents and trade secrets.
 
  Under the ‘Universal Access to Vaccine and Medicines’ campaign cooperation is being sought from various social, cultural and other organizations, educational institutions, enlightened people, academics, judges from India and abroad. 

An international conference in this regard was also organized by the some universities and Association of Indian Universities recently.

120 countries have so far supported the proposal of the Government of India in the World Trade Organization, along with South Africa, to facilitate patent-free vaccines and medicines made in October itself, seeking waiver from TRIPS agreement.  “We strongly urge the countries / companies / individuals groups opposing this proposal to stop opposing it in the interest of humanity without any delay,” Bhide said.
 
 
UVAM strongly urges all governments of the world and the WHO:
 • All the facilities including technology transfer, availability of raw materials, trade secrets should be ensured for all potential manufacturers including trade secrets, in order to increase the production of vaccines.
 
*To ensure abundant production of Remdesivir, Faviracire, Tociluzumab and new medicines like Molnupiravir.
 
• Effectively control the prices along with adequate production of vaccines and medicines at the global level.
 
  • To speed up diplomatic efforts through WTO, G-7, G-20 and other global forums for achieving the objective of TRIPS waiver.
 
 
  So far nearly four lakh people have signed the petition in the digital signature campaign from India and 20 more countries.  In another petition 1600 top academicians/ enlightened citizens from India and abroad have signed demanding that:
 
1. World Trade Organization should relax the provisions of intellectual property rights.
 
 2. Global pharmaceutical manufacturer and vaccine manufacturer companies should voluntarily grant patent-free rights, including transfer of technology, to other manufacturers for the sake of humanity.
 
 3. All other drug manufacturers, other than the patent holders, should take all necessary steps for the right to manufacture vaccines and medicines, availability of necessary technology and production material. Encouragement be given to such manufacturers.
 
 4. To fight against Corona and to ensure global availability of vaccines and medicines, all patriotic people, concerned individuals and organizations come forward and join these efforts.