NEWS

The Netherlands supports a global ‘Covid-19 pool’


The Netherlands gives its support to a global pool for rights on data, knowledge and intellectual property on Covid-19 that can be freely shared.

Last week Wemos sent a letter to the Dutch cabinet, on behalf of 38 civil society organisations including Open State Foundation, political youth organisations and 20 public health experts to request the Dutch government for support.

Costa Rica sent a letter to Dr. Tedros, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). It has requested WHO to create a global pool for data, knowledge and technologies that can be of use in the prevention, detection and treatment of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Netherlands supports this call to actively support the Costa Rica proposal.

A Covid-19 pool would enable accelerated production of the required Covid-19 technologies. In addition, it would meet the global need for affordable products – a relevant issue, now that Covid-19 is affecting more and more countries with limited financial resources and often weak health systems.

Image: Hank Williams via Pixabay