PATENTS VERSUS PUBLIC HEALTH: LEGAL FAILURES IN GLOBAL VACCINE DISTRIBUTION DURING PANDEMICS

Abstract

The distribution of vaccines in a global health crisis is a crucial battle between corporate profits and human survival. Intellectual property laws such as the TRIPS Agreement facilitated in rewarding pharmaceutical companies for developing vaccines at a record speed. However, the distribution of these vaccines is often extremely inequitable. Rich countries gets the first doses of vaccines. This disparity highlights a massive failure of international law and global health regulations which becomes powerless against market forces. The world needs structural as well as legal change, e.g. mandatory technology transfer, local manufacturing hubs in developing countries, and above all, legally binding treaties to force global cooperation.