KUALA LUMPUR: Asia should lead the way in opening up patent protections to produce cheaper generic versions of life-saving medicines for critical diseases, from COVID-19 to HIV/AIDS, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Welcoming US President Joe Biden's administration's stated intention to support the temporary waiver of intellectual property (IP) protection for COVID-19 vaccine, he said this should give way to a total transformation of the pharmaceutical patent system.
"Pausing the gears is not enough. Our obligation is to dismantle it entirely," he said in a video address to Nikkei's Future of Asia conference in Tokyo today.
Muhyiddin said based on the United Nations (UN) Article 25(1) of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is high time for these innovations including drugs, vaccines and medical devices to be brought out of the purview of individual patent rights and for global property rights to be created instead.
For Asia to effectively prevent and fight pandemics, he said, it needs to shift from a purely nationalistic approach to health services to investing in health as a global public good.
"Treating health infrastructure as a global public good would mean Asia as a whole treats health the way many individual countries treat their education, security, the environment. In essence, as a critical piece of the global commons supported by a collective investment, for the benefit of all," he said.
Stressing that COVID-19 infections must be suppressed as quickly as possible to prevent mutating variants that make the current vaccines obsolete, the prime minister, however, noted that there were man-made hurdles to this effort.
"For instance, the wealthiest 27 countries have 35.5 per cent of the vaccines, although they only cover 10.5 per cent of the world's population. These countries have more than enough vaccine doses to immunise people beyond their own populations," said Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin said 20 per cent or 252 million out of 1.23 billion doses administered across 174 countries so far were taken up by the US alone.
In terms of production, he said, China and India have exported around 200 million and 66 million vaccine doses, approximately 48 per cent and 34 per cent of their total production respectively.
"In comparison, the US and UK have only exported three million and one million of their vaccine doses respectively, or a mere 1.1 per cent and four per cent of their total production respectively," he said.
Muhyiddin also said that the failure of global leadership to address the COVID-19 pandemic was due to human biases such as tribalism, dysfunctional competition and short-term thinking.
"Of course, it is unrealistic to expect nations not to compete, or for them to forgo building their self-interests, but we must also realise that long-term victory often doesn't mean pushing your country ahead of the line all the time, every time.
"Certainly one posits that, in the post-COVID-19 world, it will be the countries who are most generous, who build bridges rather than walls and who bring their neighbours together rather than drive them away, who will be successful," he added.
He also said success depended on whether Asian regional institutions can strengthen themselves with more robust conflict management mechanisms and move towards a flexible view of state sovereignty.
He said by demonstrating ability to share leadership with the region's weaker states in managing its security and economic conflicts, Asia's emerging powers can gain global credibility and trust, andit can facilitate a substantive contribution to global governance from a position of leadership and strength.
Muhyiddin said Malaysia also pledged its best efforts to break the bonds of pandemic misery, to cut the chains of poverty and for relief of people affected by tyranny.
"We have to help in every way we can, not because we want their commerce, not because we seek to extend our geo-political influences, but because it is the right moral thing to do," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu May 20 2021
![Asia should lead in opening up patent protection to produce cheaper life-saving medicines - PM Asia should lead in opening up patent protection to produce cheaper life-saving medicines - PM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/61620734187_muhyiddin.jpg)
Muhyiddin says it is high time for these innovations including drugs, vaccines and medical devices to be brought out of the purview of individual patent rights. Filepic/AWANI
![Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719647184_LionelMessi.jpg)
Messi harap cepat pulih daripada kecederaan
Kapten Argentina, Lionel Messi berharap agar beliau cepat pulih daripada kecederaan buku lali yang dialaminya perlawanan akhir Copa America.
![MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721105894_AhmadZahidHamidi.jpg)
MARA diminta terus teroka potensi industri halal global - Ahmad Zahid
MARA diminta untuk terus meneroka potensi antarabangsa dalam industri halal yang mempunyai prospek besar menerusi program Gate to Global (GTG).
Saya akan rindu bau durian - Kim Pan-gon
Menurut Kim Pan-gon, beliau akan tetap bangga dengan pasukan bola sepak Malaysia walaupun dimana beliau berada.
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Katanya beliau akan merindui bau durian dan langit Malaysia. #AWANInews
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan berikutan komitmen peribadi
Pengurus pasukan kebangsaan Malaysia, Kim Pan-gon menyatakan perletakan jawatan tersebut kerana komitmen peribadi.
#AWANInews
#AWANInews
![Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721102997_SimposiumDronKeban.jpg)
Penggunaan dron tingkat keberkesanan pemantauan pencemaran - Nik Nazmi
Penggunaan dron membolehkan pemantauan pencemaran alam sekitar dan hidupan liar serta pencerobohan hutan dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan.
![Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71718142997_KimPanGon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan ketua jurulatih, akan terus rindui sokongan rakyat Malaysia
Kim Pan-gon menjadi satu-satunya individu yang bakal meninggalkan pasukan manakala Pau Marti bersama staf sokongan yang lain kekal di Kelana Jaya.
![Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721109015_bekaspengawalperib.jpg)
Bekas pengawal peribadi Wan Azizah cedera kemalangan
Bekas anggota polis wanita yang kini bekerja sebagai pengawal peribadi cedera setelah motosikal ditunggangnya melanggar sebuah SUV di lebuh raya PLUS.
![Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719996195_MKulasegaran.jpg)
Rang Undang-undang Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentang akhir tahun ini - Kulasegaran
RUU Kebebasan Maklumat dijangka dibentangkan di Parlimen pada akhir tahun ini selepas cadangan ketetapan bagi penggubalan Akta Kebebasan Maklumat dibawa ke Jemaah Menteri untuk kelulusan.
![Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108438_azizi.jpg)
Azizi dilantik Ketua Polis Perak baharu
Timbalan Ketua Polis Perak Datuk Azizi Mat Aris dilantik sebagai Ketua Polis Perak yang baharu hari ini.
![ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721108165_ADUNRembiaPN.jpg)
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas, tak 'lompat parti' - Takiyuddin
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
![Tiada pengosongan kerusi: Bersatu ambil tindakan undang-undang dalam masa terdekat Tiada pengosongan kerusi: Bersatu ambil tindakan undang-undang dalam masa terdekat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720866847_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Tiada pengosongan kerusi: Bersatu ambil tindakan undang-undang dalam masa terdekat
Bersatu konsisten menolak keputusan Speaker Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Johari Abdul dan menegaskan beliau tidak sepatutnya membuat keputusan sebegitu.
![Pemilihan Bersatu: Peja undur diri, Hamzah bertanding Timbalan Presiden Pemilihan Bersatu: Peja undur diri, Hamzah bertanding Timbalan Presiden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720865913_HamzahZainudinnai.jpg)
Pemilihan Bersatu: Peja undur diri, Hamzah bertanding Timbalan Presiden
Setiausaha Agung Bersatu, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin bakal 'naik pangkat' dan menyandang jawatan Timbalan Presiden parti pada pemilihan akan datang.
![Pembangkang semakin dapat sokongan rakyat - Muhyiddin Pembangkang semakin dapat sokongan rakyat - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720844857_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Pembangkang semakin dapat sokongan rakyat - Muhyiddin
Pembangkang semakin mendapat sokongan rakyat terutama orang Melayu berdasarkan situasi politik semasa ketika ini.
![Pemilihan Bersatu: Saya sudah ada 'keputusan' - Muhyiddin Pemilihan Bersatu: Saya sudah ada 'keputusan' - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719586122_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
Pemilihan Bersatu: Saya sudah ada 'keputusan' - Muhyiddin
'Ilham' diperoleh selepas Muhyiddin bertemu dengan sebahagian besar Majlis Pimpinan Tertinggi (MPT) Bersatu, baru-baru ini.
![Kekosongan kerusi Parlimen: Kerajaan Perpaduan tak isytihar sebab takut kalah - Muhyiddin Kekosongan kerusi Parlimen: Kerajaan Perpaduan tak isytihar sebab takut kalah - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720839564_MuhyiddinYassinBe.jpg)
Kekosongan kerusi Parlimen: Kerajaan Perpaduan tak isytihar sebab takut kalah - Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin dakwa, Kerajaan Perpaduan sanggup melanggar peruntukan Perlembagaan Persekutuaan berkait Akta Lompat Parti.
![Isu dipecat Bersatu: 'PN jadikan kami ahli Parlimen Bebas' - 6 MP Isu dipecat Bersatu: 'PN jadikan kami ahli Parlimen Bebas' - 6 MP](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719654005_Bersatu.jpg)
Isu dipecat Bersatu: 'PN jadikan kami ahli Parlimen Bebas' - 6 MP
Enam bekas ahli Parlimen Bersatu yang dipecat daripada parti itu menegaskan tidak akan menyertai mana-mana parti politik, sebaliknya akan terus berkhidmat sebagai wakil rakyat Bebas.
![[KOLUMNIS] Sungai Bakap mengalir kecewa nasional [KOLUMNIS] Sungai Bakap mengalir kecewa nasional](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720269586_TBSgBakap.jpg)
[KOLUMNIS] Sungai Bakap mengalir kecewa nasional
Kerajaan Perpaduan bukan tidak melakukan yang terbaik, tetapi gagal dalam naratif mereka.
![Kedudukan enam bekas Ahli Parlimen Bersatu: Keputusan Speaker berdasarkan Perlembagaan - PM Anwar Kedudukan enam bekas Ahli Parlimen Bersatu: Keputusan Speaker berdasarkan Perlembagaan - PM Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720671684_AnwarIbrahimperda.jpg)
Kedudukan enam bekas Ahli Parlimen Bersatu: Keputusan Speaker berdasarkan Perlembagaan - PM Anwar
Beliau juga minta Muhyiddin baca tafsiran undang-undang Perlembagaan Persekutuan mengenai Akta Anti Lompat Parti secara menyeluruh.
![Muhyiddin tak faham kebebasan bersuara Ahli Parlimen - Nazri Muhyiddin tak faham kebebasan bersuara Ahli Parlimen - Nazri](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720652981_MuhyiddinYassin.jpg)
"Muhyiddin tak faham kebebasan bersuara Ahli Parlimen" - Nazri
Keputusan yang dibuat Johari itu bertepatan dengan semangat Akta Anti Lompat Parti yang diluluskan di Dewan Rakyat sebelum ini, kata Nazri.
!['Saya harap diberi keputusan adil' - Muhyiddin 'Saya harap diberi keputusan adil' - Muhyiddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720511154_TanSriMuhyiddinYa.jpg)
'Saya harap diberi keputusan adil' - Muhyiddin
'Saya harap diberi keputusan adil' - Muhyiddin