India seeks equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines

INDIA bats for a for a fair, transparent and equitable access to essential medical supplies and any future vaccines developed to fight COVID-19.

The country co-sponsored a UN general assembly resolution in this regard.

The 193-member assembly adopted the Mexico-drafted resolution 'International cooperation to ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face COVID-19' by consensus.

Pakistanw among the small minority of nations that did not sponsor the resolution.

India was among the 179 nations co-sponsoring the resolution.

"India has proactively engaged in supporting global availability of medicines and drugs by means of international cooperation and development partnerships.     Also, we are facilitating the sourcing of global supplies of multilateral agencies such as UNICEF in the face of COVID-19. We were therefore glad to co-sponsor this important initiative," India's permanent representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said.

Pakistan said it has some reservations on the resolution drafted by Mexico.

The resolution, which received US support, was the second document to be adopted by the General Assembly on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, the general assembly unanimously adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by 188 nations including India, calling for intensified international cooperation to defeat the pandemic.

The resolution recognised the importance of international cooperation and effective multilateralism in helping to ensure that all States have in place effective national protective measures, access to and flow of vital medical supplies, medicines and vaccines in order to minimise negative effects in all affected states and to avoid relapses of the pandemic.

It encouraged member states to work in partnership with all relevant stakeholders to increase research and development funding for vaccines and medicines, leverage digital technologies, and strengthen scientific international cooperation necessary to combat COVID-19.

The resolution requested the secretary-general, in close collaboration with the World Health Organization, to take the necessary steps to effectively coordinate efforts of the United Nations system to promote and ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment needed to face COVID-19.