TWO former health secretaries are amongst a near-40-strong group of MSPs urging Tory ministers to back the suspension of Covid vaccine patents — to protect people in poorer countries.
Shona Robison and Alex Neil are amongst those to add their names to a cross-party call to Westminster.
Nine out of 10 poorer nations are expected to miss out on the Covid vaccine next year.
South Africa and India have lodged a proposal to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for a patents waiver on coronavirus vaccines and treatments to allow all countries the chance to help their citizens.
If granted, the move will all nations to choose not to apply cost-raising intellectual property clauses relating to drugs, diagnostics and other health technologies until vaccination is in place around the world.
As many as 38 MSPs have written to the UK Government ahead of a key WTO meeting tomorrow to call on Conservative ministers to ensure cost is not barrier to fighting the global pandemic.
They're drawn from the SNP, Labour, LibDems and Greens — but not a single Tory MSP has added their name.
The letter, directed to Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Business Secretary Alok Sharma, states: "Intellectual property barriers have affected access to N95 respirator masks and ventilator valves during the current pandemic, as well as ongoing access to medicines for cancers, hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis.
"The historical and recent actions by pharmaceutical corporations shows that we cannot rely on their exclusive rights and limited voluntary actions to end this global pandemic."
The WTO meeting will look at the bid by South Africa and India, which is also backed by Pakistan, Mozambique, Kenya and Eswatini.
The People's Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of major charities including Oxfam and Global Justice Now, expects that in around 70 low and lower-middle income countires, just one in 10 people will be vaccinated next year without urgent action by rich states — who have ordered enough doses to vaccinate their entire populations nearly three times over.
Liz Murray, head of Scottish campaigns at Global Justice Now, said: “This is a really important proposal from South Africa and India which would make Covid-19 vaccines and treatments more accessible and affordable to all countries, but particularly those in the global south.
“The UK government must act in solidarity and support this proposal to ensure that pharmaceutical companies put people before profit and that everyone everywhere has access to vaccines and treatments. We’re really pleased to see so many MSPs, from across the parties, adding their voices and calling on the UK government to do that.”
The full list of signatories is as follows:
Claire Baker MSP
Claudia Beamish MSP
Colin Beattie MSP
Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP
Angela Constance MSP
Bruce Crawford MSP
Bob Doris MSP
Annabelle Ewing MSP
Linda Fabiani MSP
Neil Findlay MSP
John Finnie MSP
Iain Gray MSP
Ross Greer MSP
Alison Johnstone MSP
James Kelly MSP
Bill Kidd MSP
Johann Lamont MSP
Richard Leonard MSP
Angus MacDonald MSP
Fulton MacGregor MSP
Ruth Maguire MSP
John Mason MSP
Liam McArthur MSP
Mark McDonald MSP
Stuart McMillan MSP
Alex Neil MSP
Gil Paterson MSP
Willie Rennie MSP
Shona Robison MSP
Alex Rowley MSP
Mark Ruskell MSP
Anas Sarwar MSP
Elaine Smith MSP
Colin Smyth MSP
Maureen Watt MSP
Andy Wightman MSP
Beatrice Wishart MSP
Sandra White MSP
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