GREAT BRITAIN 100 labour movement activists address Prime Minister Boris Johnson about India: « Release the rights on vaccine patents and arrange immediately the necessary transfers of technology to enable India to manufacture the vaccines they need »
Open letter to Boris Johnson Dear Prime Minister, The news received from Indian trade unionists is absolutely appalling. The whole world is witnessing a real tragedy in India. Every day, the number of people infected with Covid-19 is increasing. Whoever gets a bed in hospital is considered lucky. The death-toll is soaring because of the lack of hospital beds, medicines and oxygen. The health system has collapsed; there are not enough doctors and paramedics to cope with the growing demand. India is regarded as the « pharmacy of the world », and a large proportion of the generic drugs used worldwide are produced in India. But today, the Indian population has no access to vaccines, to the most essential medicines, or even to oxygen. There is no doubt that the Modi government is responsible. But your government also bears responsibility, when we know that for months you have – in agreement with a number of governments including the US administration [...]