Press release on the occasion of the G7

Public funds will continue to finance exponential profits for these companies and their shareholders, who have already been largely supported in their research by these same public funds. The European Citizens’ Initiative "No profit on the pandemic" calls for the lifting of the patents of these vaccines and for giving the same disadvantaged countries the means to produce these vaccines themselves: this would not only allow a substantial reduction in production costs but above all to obtain a purchase price in real relation to the production cost.

The European Network affirms that charity and humanitarian aid are not enough to fight this pandemic. Instead, it is necessary and vital to put global public health above the financial interests of a few. Therefore the European Network calls upon the G7 to act now by i) supporting the WTO waiver on intellectual property rights on all Covid-19 medical products, including vaccines; ii) obliging companies to share vaccine technology and know-how with qualified manufacturers in developing countries, and iii) providing financial assistance to achieve this to maximise supply. If G7 countries want to be serious on ending this pandemic, these elements are indispensable.

Press contact:
Sarah Derdelinckx,
European Network against Privatization and Commercialization of Health and Social Protection
sarah.derdelinckx@gezondheid-solidariteit.be