"It's a pandemic of inequality"

On Wednesday, March 10, the 162 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) met to discuss once again the request of more than 100 countries of the Global South to suspend Covid19 patents and other intellectual property rights. But Germany, Europe and almost all industrialized nations are blocking the so-called "TRIPS waiver" to suspend intellectual property rights during the pandemic. We interviewed medico partners, doctors and health activists from the Global South about the pandemic in their countries and why the governments of the rich countries have to give up their blockade of the suspension of patent protection.

“No one is safe, until everyone is safe”. Interview with Zimbabwean activist and researcher Rangarai Machemedze, coordinator of global policies in EQUINET, the Regional Network on Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa, on the need for a change in the global health governance.

“Our futures are interdependent”. Interview with Dr. Rene Loewenson, epidemiologist and director of Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) in Zimbabwe and founding member of EQUINET, the Regional Network on Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa, on interdependent futures and people-centered public health approaches.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is a pandemic of inequality”. Interview with Leslie London, Professor for Public Health at the University of Cape Town and activist in the Peoples Health Movement (PHM) South Africa, on lessons from the HIV/AIDS pandemic and global inequality as a cause for the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Patents make vaccines unaffordable”. Interview with Philippine doctor and national coordinator of Peoples Health Movement (PHM) Dr. Delen de la Paz on the social and medical effects of the Covid 19 Pandemic and the worsening Human Rights situation in the Philippines.

“There should be free access to vaccines worldwide”. Interview with Antonio Martins, editor of the Brazilian news website Outras Palavras​ and founding member of the World Social Forum, on science, technology and culture as common goods of humanity and the struggle for global commons.