On behalf of the Salud por Derecho Foundation, we appreciate the opportunity to share our perspective on the creation of a fair and equitable system for pathogen access and benefit-sharing. We recognize and applaud the effort made to build consensus and bridge positions in the last few months. However, we are concerned that, in the process, essential aspects related to access to benefits under this system, such as the commitment to share and allocate a percentage of global production of medical countermeasures, may be weakened.
We have conducted an analysis to evaluate what could have happened if we had had a PABS system in place to redistribute 20% of COVID-19 vaccines produced during between 2021 and 2022:
- In low-income countries, such a system would have enabled 100% of the population to access a single dose within 19 months, while in reality only 60% received a single dose.
- In lower-middle-income countries, two doses per person would have been achievable within two years, which did not happen in reality.
- High-income countries would have experienced only a one-month delay to achieve one-dose coverage per capita, and a four-month delay to achieve two-dose coverage per capita, compared to what actually occurred.
- A 20% redistribution would have improved access, but it remains clearly insufficient. To ensure all countries received one dose per capita in similar timeframes, a redistribution of 35% of produced doses would have been required.
Access to non-monetary benefits in a PABS instrument is an essential aspect. Therefore, we request that references to dose-sharing and distribution mechanisms be retained, and that higher percentages be established to enable a more equitable distribution.
Additionally, proposals to include non-exclusive, sublicensable licenses as part of the benefit-sharing mechanism should be a core component of an Access and Benefit-Sharing instrument, rather than an optional measure.
We hope we have contributed to an informed discussion on this issue, and we encourage Member States to consider these points to ensure that future crisis responses are more equitable and just.
