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This will be a very unpopular opinion, but I can understand where Gates is coming from. I disagree with his use of IP rights excuse, because the debate on IP rights is derailing is from actual core issues of why companies & some experts disagree with tech Sharing.
This going to be a very superficial attempt at raising the complex issues involved. The detailed discussion is a subject of atleast 10-15 lecture classes in both IP & vaccine development & very few people lack in-depth expertise in both combined.
For me more than IP (and IP rights are a concern from a capitalistic overreach POV, health equity POV, Free market profit dynamics vs public health POV, Drug development cost vs return cost vis a vis vaccine equity in pandemic), but over & above these are more serious concerns
The serious concerns which are being overlooked are - 1) A serious lack or total absence of robust independent & transparent drug regulators & drug regulation processes in most LMICs
2) Total absence of protocols required for ensuring & evaluating & transparency in sharing drug safety at all stages - raw material, manufacturing, post manufacturing batch testing, storage & delivery.
On paper doesn’t equate with in practical.
On paper doesn’t equate with in practical.
These issues have been clearly demonstrated on the total lack of transparency in data sharing, on-site evaluations of Sputnik, both the Chinese vaccines & India’s covaxin & Covidshield.
There is total opacity when it comes to information sharing on crucial aspects like tech sharing in case of Covidshield or data sharing in terms of published trial data or data sharing with regulators by all the above manufacturers. Audit & facility data as well.
From a safety safety advocate POV even I would be extremely skeptical of tech sharing especially for manufacturing with such countries because of the potential of serious dangers when these protocols are not followed & patient safety not taken seriously.
Many LMICs donot have in Place structured patient safety protocols, legislations & their regulators (like that in India) hardly have theth or the moral or ethical commitment towards the job they are supposed to do.
Hell they don’t even understand the basics of patient safety.
Hell they don’t even understand the basics of patient safety.
