Malaysia must support the WTO waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 – If Not Now When?

PDF
medical, medicine, health 
OPEN LETTER

Note: This letter has been sent today to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin bin Hj Mohd Yassin and the ministers of MITI, MOSTI, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and MOH.

The undersigned organisations and patient advocacy groups strongly call on the Malaysian Government to immediately support the temporary suspension of intellectual property rights enforcement as an urgent COVID-19 response.  

A waiver of the World Trade Organization’s agreement on intellectual property rights (the TRIPS Agreement) would free up technologies and allow more manufacturers, including in developing countries, to urgently and quickly ramp up production of vaccines, medicines to treat COVID-19, diagnostics, ventilators and other needed medical products.

We welcome the 5 May announcement by the Biden Administration that the US will stop blocking the waiver proposal first submitted by South Africa and India to the WTO in October 2020 and now supported by more than 100 developing countries.  A global campaign that saw the tsunami of calls from ordinary citizens to Nobel Laureates, former Heads of State and even Pope Francis has been urging the US, European Union, Japan, Canada and other wealthy countries to not block the waiver.  

From October 2020 till last month, WTO discussions have gone nowhere because the blocking countries and the pharmaceutical industry behind them have put profits and self-interest above lives of the rest of the world.  The result is vaccine production that is a monopoly of a few companies holding patents and trade secrets over technology know-how, and vaccine hoarding by wealthy nations, ending up with more than they need while many poor countries can barely vaccinate their health frontliners. This has triggered outrage across the world. 

We have urged the Malaysian Government to join the other developing countries since last November.  While the Government has secured vaccines for Malaysia, the actual delivery is totally dependent on the small number of suppliers, and there is no guarantee that we will get all we need. Look at India where the biggest manufacturer for AstraZeneca cannot export anymore because what they produce is not even enough for India itself.

The waiver that the WTO members have to adopt is not just about vaccines. It is also about medicines for treating COVID-19, diagnostics, ventilator valves, and a range of needed medical products that have patents, trade secrets and other intellectual property protection. The US supports waiver of patent and other intellectual property for vaccines which is a first step, but it is not enough.

With the new waves of infections and more virulent variants, infections are soaring. Malaysia is on a worrying upward trend with the Ministry of Health already raising the alarm that our intensive care beds are fast reaching full use.  Every country including Malaysia must be prepared for this pandemic that is going to stretch for several years.  Some existing medicines that are under clinical trials with potential for COVID-19 treatment are locked up in patents in Malaysia. Our local pharmaceutical industry can be part for the national health and security preparedness but they need the freedom to operate that a WTO waiver can help to speed up.

We call on the Government to not delay anymore, and to support the waiver for vaccines and also for treatment medicines, diagnostics and all the medical products needed for COVID-19.

We thank you and look forward to Malaysia joining the vast majority of the world’s governments in this urgently needed race against COVID-19.

Signed by:

Organisations

  1. Agora Society Malaysia
  2. Allied Coordinating Council of Muslim NGOs Malaysia
  3. Amnesty International
  4. Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
  5. Health Equity Initiatives (HEI)
  6. Gerakan Kepenggunaan Masjid
  7. Ikatan Pengamal Perubatan dan Kesihatan Muslim Malaysia
  8. Ikatan Intelegensia Membangun Malaysia
  9. Jaringan Ekologi & Iklim (JEDI)
  10. Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu Bersatu Berhad
  11. Malaysian AIDS Council
  12. Malaysia Citizens’ Health Initiative
  13. Malaysian Consumers Movement
  14. Persatuan Kebajikan Sokongan Keluarga Selangor dan Kuala Lumpur (Family Frontiers)
  15. Pertubuhan Penggerak Masyarakat Malaysia
  16. Pertubuhan Muafakat Sejahtera Masyarakat Malaysia
  17. Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu Bersatu Berhad (MTEM)
  18. Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia
  19. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
  20. Penang Forum
  21. Pertubuhan Kebajikan Vivekananda Rembau NS
  22. Pertubuhan Wanita Malaysia untuk Kawalan Tembakau dan Kesihatan (MyWATCH)
  23. Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia
  24. Positive Malaysian Treatment Access & Advocacy Group (MTAAG+)
  25. PT Foundation
  26. Prostate Cancer Society Malaysia
  27. Pusat Kecemerlangan Pendidikan Ummah
  28. Sahabat Alam Malaysia
  29. The International Women’s Alliance for Family Institution and Quality Education
  30. Third World Network
  31. Together against Cancer
  32. Together WeCareJourney
  33. Teras Pengupayaan Melayu

Individuals:

  1. Prof Dr Nur Aishah Taib 
  2. Assoc Prof Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy 
  3. Assoc Prof Dr Ho Gwo Fuang
  4. Dr Tan.Soon Guan
  5. Wong Kuan Sing
  6. Khong Chee Seng
  7. Ng Siu Kiam
  8. Tan Weng Keong           
  9. Tan Yi Jie 
  10. Tan Yi Xin                                                                                                                                                 
  11. Anna Mary Sebastian
  12. Kenneth Koh
  13. Peter Wong You Pa
  14. Chen Ooi Khoon
  15. Albert Liew
  16. Steven Kong
  17. Yong Nam Fatt
  18. Tan Chung Kim
  19. Cheong Pooi Wah
  20. Wong Kon Lee
  21. Wong Kon Len
  22. Wong Kon Thye
  23. Wong Kon Hee
  24. Wong Kon Nyet
  25. Yap Nyok Len
  26. Chen Ooi Foon
  27. Yap Tong Yee
  28. Tan Khim Woon
  29. PHANG Cheong Yuen
  30. Samrull Zaman 
  31. Chow Chee Kong
  32. Chai Nam Gnok
  33. Ong Boon Tatt
  34. Lee Ming Yuet
  35. Leyu C. H
  36. Annie Chia

Latest

Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

Support our mission

Do your part for the environment with your donations. Each contribution enables our organisation to create more impact towards environmental justice.

Donate here
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Member of Friends of the Earth International
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Member of Friends of the Earth International

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki,
11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi,
Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 756 973

Sitemap

Get the latest news

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Sahabat Alam Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia - Member of Friends of the Earth International

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

Sitemap

Get the latest news

Follow us here

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Copyright © 2023 Sahabat Alam Malaysia