Modi calls for WHO reforms at Covid-19 summit
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi called for reforms in the World Health Organization (WHO) during the second Covid-19 global summit co-hosted by the US on Thursday (12).
He said that WHO's approval processes for vaccines and therapeutics need to be streamlined and the World Trade Organization's (WTO) rules on intellectual property need to be more flexible.
Modi also outlined key steps needed for a global response to future health emergencies and to ensure resilient supply chains and equitable access to vaccines.
‘The pandemic had continued to disrupt lives, supply chains and test the resilience of open societies,' he said.
He also spoke of India's battle against the pandemic and its willingness to contribute to global common good with both supply of vaccines as well as sharing its expertise and institutional knowledge.
Suggesting reforms in the global governance multilateral architecture, Modi said, ‘WTO rules, particularly TRIPS (Trade-Related
Intellectual Property Rights), need to be more flexible. WHO must be reformed and strengthened to build a more resilient global health security architecture. We also call for streamlining WHO's approval process for vaccines and therapeutics to keep supply chain predictable and stable. As a responsible member of the global community, India is ready to play a key role in these efforts.'
Modi's comments came in the wake of WTO restrictions constraining more rapid production and equitable distribution of vaccines, WHO's early track record in identifying and managing the pandemic coming under a scanner, and delays in WHO approvals for vaccines.
The summit took place on a day the US President Joe Biden marked the ‘tragic milestone' of 'one million American lives lost due to Covid-19' in a presidential proclamation, and the US announced a new set of financial and policy commitments to battle the pandemic and future health emergencies. Belize, Senegal, Indonesia and Germany co-hosted the summit.
The first global Covid-19 summit was held in September 2021.
Outlining India's 'people's centric approach' to fighting Covid-19, Modi said that the government had made the highest ever allocation to the annual health budget.