Talks begin on SA and India bid for Covid patent ban

Member states of the World Trade Organisation will on Wednesday begin talks on a joint proposal by India and South Africa to suspend patents on coronavirus vaccines to increase production.

It’s supported by more than 100 developing countries, many of whom have not yet made a meaningful start to their vaccination campaigns.

But drugs companies say manufacturing capacity and ingredients shortages, not patents are proving to be the main bottlenecks, BBC News reports.

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Britain, the EU and the US all oppose the proposal and are likely to block its passage in the WTO.