The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a first-of-its-kind deal to boost production of a technology that detects Covid antibodies in a bid to help poorer countries battle the pandemic and address “devastating inequity.”
The WHO announced Tuesday that the technology used to detect Covid-19 antibodies in serological tests would be available royalty-free for poor or middle-income countries.
Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO chief Tedros) said that this move was needed “turn the tide on the pandemic and on the devastating global inequity this pandemic has spotlighted.”
We need this kind of transparent and open license to help us move the needle in accessing the disease during and after it has passed.
“The aim of the licence is to facilitate the rapid manufacture and commercialisation of CSIC’s COVID-19 serological test worldwide,”In a press release the WHO stated that they would offer the assistance to countries with low and moderate incomes. “will remain valid until the date the last patent expires.”
The global deal, agreed with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), will offer the test as a worldwide public good under a test permit signed by the WHO’s Medicines Patent Pool (MPP).
Learn more
According to the international body for health, nations can use the technology to detect spread of the virus in remote areas that lack basic infrastructure.
WHO says that more than 250 million people have been confirmed to have contracted the Covid-19 virus and there has been more than 5.1million deaths. Over 7.4 billion Covid-19 vaccinations have been given worldwide.
Share this article with friends if you enjoy it!
[ad_2]
