The proposal for waiver of WTO’s TRIPS Agreement to prevent, contain and treat COVID-19: investigating the benefits and challenges for low- and middle-income countries

Authors: Sanath Wijesinghe, Chaminya Adikari, and Ruwanthika Ariyaratna

Abstract: This article examines the benefits of the TRIPS waiver for low- and middle-income countries with particular reference to the challenges that these countries may face in the manufacturing and purchasing stages of COVID-19 vaccines. We assess arguments for and against the TRIPS waiver and suggest actionable solutions that could be provided by global policy actors to enable low- and middle-income countries to overcome such challenges. Actions for global solidarity and redistribution of resources appear to be instrumental factors in ensuring that low- and middle-income countries make the best use of the TRIPS waiver for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Citation: Sanath Wijesinghe, Chaminya Adikari, Ruwanthika Ariyaratna, The proposal for waiver of WTO’s TRIPS Agreement to prevent, contain and treat COVID-19: investigating the benefits and challenges for low- and middle-income countries, Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, 2022;, jpab182, https://doi.org/10.1093/jiplp/jpab182