Synopsis- Vaccine Price, availability and affordability [for 18-44 age group] would require a coordinated effort from state governments. Introduction- The central government has pulled out from the third phase of the vaccination drive. The center has provided state governments’ the full responsibility for vaccinating [a group that constitutes about 40 per cent of the population].… Continue reading State should form a joint committee to negotiate COVID vaccine price
Category: daily news
Treating Israel-Palestine issue with a humanitarian response
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Measures to control the impact of Pandemic in rural India
Synopsis: To limit the impact of Pandemic in rural India, states must produce reliable data on Covid-19 infection. State governments need to build capacities and involve panchayats in Covid-19 response. Background of Pandemic in rural India To tackle the second wave, active coordination between all three tiers of Government (The union, the State and Panchayat)… Continue reading Measures to control the impact of Pandemic in rural India
India’s Vaccine exports are guided by good diplomacy and good epidemiology
Contents1 2 Synopsis:3 Background:4 Reasons behind vaccine exports:5 Various steps to enhance vaccine availability in India: Synopsis: The vaccine exports by India have not obstructed its efforts in tackling the Covid-19 outbreak. Rather it is a strategy guided by good diplomacy, good economics and good epidemiology. That is immensely beneficial for the country. Background: As… Continue reading India’s Vaccine exports are guided by good diplomacy and good epidemiology
“Community Transmission”(CT) and “Categorisation of diseases”
Contents1 What is the News?2 About Categorisation of diseases: 3 What is the category of the Sporadic case?4 What is the Cluster of Cases category?5 What is Community Transmission(CT)?6 Countries classified under Community Transmission:7 Government policy based on Categorisation: What is the News? India is registering the highest number of cases globally every day. But the… Continue reading “Community Transmission”(CT) and “Categorisation of diseases”
Gauhati High Court Questions FCRA Amendment Act
Synopsis: The Gauhati High Court questions the new FCRA Amendment Act. Introduction: An Assam-based NGO has filed a petition in the Gauhati High Court against an amended provision of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act(FCRA). As the amendment makes Aadhaar mandatory for opening and operating the account in Delhi. FCRA Amendment Act, 2020: The FCRA amendment has… Continue reading Gauhati High Court Questions FCRA Amendment Act
Centre Should Relook its Vaccine Policy
Synopsis: The vaccine policy of the government would enhance the difficulties of states and the vulnerable population. It would give greater benefit to the affluent class and the urban regions. Therefore, the center must relook it in order to make it more equitable. Contents1 Background:2 About the Vaccine Policy:3 Issues with vaccine policy that demands a… Continue reading Centre Should Relook its Vaccine Policy
Expansion of Social Security Net is Need of the Hour
Synopsis: The pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have hurt the poor on multiple fronts of healthcare, livelihood, and hunger. Both urban and rural regions are facing difficulties, however, miseries in rural regions were less due to wide coverage of social security net. This calls for expanding social security nets across the country. Background: The April… Continue reading Expansion of Social Security Net is Need of the Hour
Consequences of Neglecting Science Education
Synopsis: Neglect of Science education on disease control and health is one of the main reasons for the current Covid crisis in India. How Science Education can help in controlling the spread of disease? Firstly, many waterborne diseases in India could be prevented if children are taught the science behind the origin and causes… Continue reading Consequences of Neglecting Science Education
What is Compulsory Licensing?
Contents
What is the News?
Kerala High Court has asked the Centre to respond to a plea for invoking the compulsory licensing. Other capable vaccine manufacturers will also be able to produce Covid-19 vaccines by the use of the compulsory license.
About Compulsory Licensing:
- Compulsory licensing(CL) is a process that allows governments to license third parties (that is, parties other than the patent holders) to produce, use and sell a patented product or process. By that, producers can manufacture patented drugs without the requirement of consent of patent owners.
- The WTO’s agreement on intellectual property –TRIPS allows countries to issue compulsory licenses to domestic producers.
- In India, Compulsory licensing is allowed and regulated under the Indian Patent Act, 1970.
Section 84 of the (Indian) Patent Act,1970: It provides that after three years from the date of the grant of a patent, any person can apply for the compulsory license, on certain grounds:
- the reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied
- the patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price
- Lastly, the patented invention is not used in the territory of India.
However, compulsory licenses can also be granted under exceptional circumstances.
Section 92 of the (Indian) Patent Act,1970: It authorizes the central government to issue a compulsory license at any time after the grant of the patent, in the case of:
- National emergency; or
- Extreme urgency; or
- Case of public non-commercial use.
After the government issues a notification under Section 92 the companies can approach the government for a license. They can start manufacturing the patented drug by reverse-engineering the product.
Section 100 of the (Indian) Patent Act,1970:
- It gives the central government the power to authorize anyone to use the invention for the purposes of the government.
- Basically, this provision enables the government to license patents of the vaccine to specific companies. This is done to speed up manufacturing and ensure equitable pricing.
What is a Patent?
- Firstly, a patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. In other words, a patent is an exclusive right to a product or a process that generally provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem.
- Secondly, is a patent valid in every country? Patents are territorial rights. In general, the exclusive rights are only applicable in the country or region in which a patent has been filed and granted in accordance with the law of that country or region.
- Thirdly, how long does a patent last? The protection is granted for a limited period, generally 20 years from the filing date of the application.
Source: Hindu Business line
