Committee encourages equitable access to medicines amid coronavirus (COVID-19)

Article summary

The International Development Committee (IDC) has published its report detailing the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having on developing countries. The report notes that a lack of testing has meant that reliable data measuring the impact of the pandemic is limited and evidence suggests that ‘secondary impacts of the virus for many is worse' than the coronavirus itself. In addition, although the IDC welcomed the news of the first effective coronavirus vaccine and is supportive of the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s five-point plan to tackle emerging diseases, the Committee has expressed concerns over the vaccine, and other medicines, being equitably accessible to people across the globe. The IDC emphasised that ‘the global community needs to be on the front foot and promote a global health strategy and universal care that will be able to cope with new and different health challenges’. The report also details the Committee’s thoughts on research and development...