Evaluating the Efficacy of Article 31bis of TRIPS Agreement in Facilitating Access to COVID-19 Vaccines

Abstract

Sudden out breaking of Pandemic Covid-19 alarmed the world and provided an opportunity to re-prioritize the things. It became top of the priority to save life rather to save money. If your life is in danger you will never think about other things like accumulation of wealth and other luxuries except how to save your life. Pandemic brought the world united in awaiting and accessing vaccination. Difficulty raises more for those who have not enough wealth to purchase those drugs to save their lives. In other words, they would die due to their poverty. ‘Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health’ was intended to cater this problem therefore it provided a solution in the form of ‘Export Compulsory Licensing’ for essential drugs more than two decades ago but still only one successful venture has been carried out under this scheme. This research intends to explore the possible reasons of its failure and how it can be benefited more in future. Furthermore, this article will also provide some ways out for Pakistan to access easy and affordable medicines keeping itself compliant to international intellectual property laws and obligations.