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TRIPS Waiver Petition Letter

Dec 30, 2021

Health workers from India and South Africa call on G7 and EU governments to put people's health before Big Pharma's profits. Share #Covid-19 vaccines and treatments!

Read this in: English | हिंदी | தமிழ் | ಕನ್ನಡ | മലയാളം

Public funding has paved the way for scientific developments to beat the coronavirus – but now corporate property rights are threatening access to vital medicines and equipment and putting millions of lives at risk.

That's why many governments – supported by unions and civil society – are calling for the WTO to waive intellectual property protection measures for Covid-19 vaccines, medicines and medical supplies (a.k.a. TRIPS waiver). But countries from the Group of 7 and the European Union are opposing this proposal.

Sign this letter to let them know that private profits must not be put ahead of public health.

Read more about the TRIPS Waiver:

SIGN THE Petition

Dear [G7/EU country] leaders,

As health workers on the frontline of the COVID pandemic in India and South Africa, every day we are witness to the tremendous suffering the virus is causing; people taking their last breaths and families being ripped apart. Our fellow health workers are also dying.

We know many health workers and their families in the [G7/EU country] have experienced immense suffering as well and we share a collective grief with them.

What we do not share, however, is the sense of hope that people in the [G7/EU country] are now starting to have, because of the life-saving vaccines which are being rolled out there.

While [EU/G7 countries] have enough vaccines for more than their entire population, 9 in 10 people in the poorest countries will miss out on a vaccine this year. As health workers we have an obligation to protect the life of all people, but it is our people who are last in line for the vaccine.

A handful of companies in our countries are already making Covid 19 vaccines but there are many more manufacturers in ours and other developing nations with the skills and capacity to make more, so that more lives could be saved. It pains us that the [G7/EU] government is actively blocking efforts that would allow this to happen.

Our governments have proposed a temporary waiver of intellectual property rules , which would allow qualified manufacturers across the globe to produce more vaccines and other Covid health technologies such as therapeutics and diagnostics. Yet the [G7 country/EU] are refusing to support this. They are allowing the vaccine knowledge to be hoarded by just a handful of pharmaceutical companies, who get to decide who lives and who dies.

[While our government representatives have been invited to join you at the G7 Summit this week, we want you to hear our voices from the front line of this crisis too.]

How can the [G7/EU] government, in our greatest hour of need, continue to stand by the pharmaceutical monopolies whose choices are killing tens of thousands of us. We call on you to change course and urgently support the waiver of intellectual property rules our governments are calling for. Every day of delay is prolonging our suffering.

*Note this letter may be adapted to target other governments failing to support the TRIPS waiver proposal at the WTO.

62

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We, the health workers from India and South Africa call on G7 and EU governments to not block the TRIP waiver proposal

  • Veronika BüssyVERDI Germany
    about 2 years ago
  • Anonymous signature
    about 2 years ago
  • Leila Maxhuni Germany
    over 2 years ago
  • Alice Barrett United States
    over 2 years ago
  • George Bonn Italy
    over 2 years ago
  • Casey Qian Canada
    over 2 years ago
  • Rochelle Senwana South Africa
    over 2 years ago
  • Kedibone Mdolo South Africa
    over 2 years ago
  • Marko Janžić Croatia
    over 2 years ago
  • JOSE ANTONY India
    over 2 years ago
  • Arul Anthony Australia
    almost 3 years ago
  • Dr. Mohan Rao India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Jan Swasthya Abhiyan-Mumbai India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Dr Sarin S M India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Shomon ThomasNurse Malta
    almost 3 years ago
  • Alsa Saraswathy Staff nurse Malta
    almost 3 years ago
  • BexenCarer India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Nebu Mathai India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Nimrat kaurproject coordinator India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Mishthi aroraStudent India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Akansha AroraManagement India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Sibusiso Nkasa South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Hermann Reuterdoctor South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Lisema International Relations Officer South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • John FultonPresident Biotech Canada
    almost 3 years ago
  • Vanessa JapthaEducation Rights Advocacy Manager South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Ntsiki MpuloCommunications South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • olivia comptonFull time employee United Kingdom
    almost 3 years ago
  • Jibin TCNurse India
    almost 3 years ago
  • ABDIKADIR AHMEDHealth Worker Kenya
    almost 3 years ago
  • Christian Rumu Kenya
    almost 3 years ago
  • Genevieve Quintaljournalist South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Deepak KumarPublic Health Professional India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Jeremiah Tshabangu OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH STUDENT South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • MULAMBYA FredMedical doctor Zambia
    almost 3 years ago
  • Joyce SibandaNurse Eswatini
    almost 3 years ago
  • Tracy EastmanMedical Doctor South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Rehema ChengoCHW Coordinator Kenya
    almost 3 years ago
  • Helen BockClinical Program Coordinator and Supporter/NIMART NURSE South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Mike tauSaccawu 2nd Deputy President South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Maikepa MotlalepuleProfessional Nurse South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Zodwa GqiranaNurse South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • LettyshaNursw Kenya
    almost 3 years ago
  • Md AsaduzzamanDeputy Director Bangladesh
    almost 3 years ago
  • Emmanuel E Longshak[email protected] Nigeria
    almost 3 years ago
  • Rashidatu Fouad KamaraMedical Doctor Sierra Leone
    almost 3 years ago
  • Rebecca BerhanuPhysician South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Reeby merry thomasStaff nurse India
    almost 3 years ago
  • Ramaswiela Tshinakaho Nurse South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Tshepo Moreetsi Enrolled nursing assistant South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Spanera Professional nurse South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Heather SamInternational Relations & Marketing Manager South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Sacha KnoxHealth researcher South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Mandisa MbunduNurse South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • SALOME MALATJIAuxiliary Nurse South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Manti Enrolled Nurse Auxiliary South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Mzikazi Nkata Forensic Pathology Officer South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Linda GreeffOncology social worker South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Philip LewisLocal government United Kingdom
    almost 3 years ago
  • Thandeka Msibi Nursing South Africa
    almost 3 years ago
  • Fran Baumprofessor Australia
    almost 3 years ago
  • Bojan Kanižaj Croatia
    almost 3 years ago
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