The International Health Cooperative Organisation (IHCO) is calling on leaders and governments of all countries to take a step forward, join forces and use all resources at their disposal to eradicate the Coronavirus and rebuild better together. IHCO sent a letter to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation, and António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, in which it expressed its concern regarding the difficulties of distribution of and access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“The solution to the pandemic will not be final and no one will be safe until everyone is. We therefore need to ensure access to the vaccine without inequities either between or within countries,” read the letters. “IHCO recognises and supports the important work that the World Health Organisation and its partners are carrying out through the COVAX initiative and the ACT Accelerator, which through multilateral collaboration promotes the development and manufacture of vaccines against COVID-19, promoting fair and equitable access in all countries of the world,” added the apex.
IHCO supports the temporary waiver of intellectual property rights related to COVID-19 vaccines and believes the knowledge and technology shared by vaccine manufacturers will allow local production to be expanded and significantly increase supply to the COVAX initiative.
Thus IHCO supports European Parliament’s Resolution of 10 June in relation to the temporary waiver of intellectual property rights in the field of vaccines, treatment and equipment related to COVID-19 and increasing production and manufacturing capacity in developing countries.
The letter also expressed the sector’s willingness to collaborate with states and international organisations to help in the post COVID-19 reconstruction process to help achieve Universal Health Coverage, promote cooperation and democratic participation in health systems and foster equitable access to healthcare for all. Read the full letter on IHCO’s website.
