Advance purchase vaccine deals not the best strategy: Union

Kota Kinabalu: While it is understandable that the Malaysian Government went ahead with advanced purchase agreements to secure the limited supply of first vaccines that will come out in the market, it might not be the best strategy, said Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU).

SMSU President, Ajulahin Japin, said advance purchase of vaccines that are not yet proven effective may not be the best strategy, but should instead democratise production so that all the manufacturing facilities that have the capability to produce these vaccines are able to do so. 

“This is one of the aims of the proposal that four countries have put forward in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and that the Malaysian Government should support,” he said in a statement Thursday.

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The formal proposal from South Africa, Kenya, Eswatini, Pakistan and Mozambique for a suspension of implementation and protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) for Covid19-related vaccines, medicines and other medical products, such as diagnostics and personal protective equipment are discussed at a formal meeting of the WTO’s Trips (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Council. 

 

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