New Delhi, Feb 26 (TIWN) India initiated proposal seeking a temporary waiver of global intellectual property rights rules in view of the pandemic has got wider support with 57 WTO members joining the initiative as co-sponsors.

The proposal seeks exemption from a clause in the Trips agreement that poses challenges for countries with limited manufacturing capacity to access medical supplies including diagnostic kits, vaccines, medicines, personal protective equipment and ventilators.  The proposal, initially introduced in October 2020 by India and South Africa now reflects voice of a large group of members of WTO with many more supporting from the floor in TRIPS Council since its introduction. Africa Group and LDC Group are the latest co-sponsors.  The increase in number of delegations co-sponsoring demonstrates the growing importance of the waiver proposal that aims to ensure uninterrupted flow of medicines, vaccines and medical equipment among countries amid the ongoing pandemic, an official of the commerce ministry said.