From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 1: "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch launched an online petition to make vaccines and medicines cheaper and accessible to all," well-known economist and SJM National Council member Professor B M Kumaraswamy, said on Monday.

Addressing an online press meet, Professor Kumaraswamy said the Corona vaccines being manufactured by only two companies in India make it difficult to vaccinate the entire country.

"More companies have to start manufacturing vaccines immediately. This is possible if the existing patents on the vaccine are waived and technology transferred to other companies. In view of this, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch has started an online petition.’’

He pointed out that the majority of the world’s population is plagued by the fear of infection with Corona. As big companies have monopoly rights due to patents on medicines and vaccines for the treatment and prevention of this infection, those are not accessible to everyone.

"Right to life of humans is a universal fundamental right. By giving unlimited rights to make profits from the patents of some companies, the right to life of crores of people is being compromised, which cannot be allowed to happen,’’ he said.

Professor Kumaraswamy said in order to make these vaccines and medicines cheaper and accessible, an intensive campaign is being launched by the people of India to transfer the technology of these vaccines and medicines by making them patent-free.

"Although a number of drugs related to the treatment of Covid are being produced locally, the quantity available is insufficient to meet the growing demand due to the severity of the problem. The Corona crisis is almost over in six countries such as Israel, America, United Kingdom etc, whose adult population has been almost fully vaccinated. Therefore, immediate vaccination of the entire adult population of the world, including India is necessary,’’ he said.

The SJM has launched a mass awareness campaign, seeking to make Covid vaccines and drugs patent-free and make their technology accessible to all producers capable of producing them. Under this, Universal Access to Vaccines and Medicines” (UAVM) has been started seeking complete access to vaccines and medicines across the country and the world, he explained.

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.

He said as many as 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 a waiver from the 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,’’ he said.

So far, nearly 6 lac 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:

• World Trade Organization should relax the provisions of intellectual property rights.
• Global pharmaceutical manufacturers and vaccine manufacturer companies should voluntarily grant patent-free rights, including the transfer of technology, to other manufacturers for the sake of humanity.
• 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 is given to such manufacturers.
• To fight against Corona and to ensure the global availability of vaccines and medicines, all patriotic people, concerned individuals and organizations come forward and join these efforts.