Mains Question:
Q. The pandemic has highlighted the pressing need for a ‘multilateral financial intermediary fund’ to help low- and middle-income countries become better prepared for global health crises. Do you think the new ‘Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response’ could change the global health landscape for the better? (150 words)
Question Mapping
- Subject: International Relations (GS-II)
- Sub-topic: Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
- Subject: Polity & Governance (GS-II)
- Sub-topic: Issues related to Health
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Approach
- Introduction- Brief about the fund and its structure
- Need of such funds
- Discuss how does it fit in the larger global health architecture
- Benefits of this new centralized pandemic fund
- Complementing existing resources and fund gaps that are unaddressed
- allowing better coordination
- strengthening the health care workforce
- expanding manufacturing capacity for medical commodities
- reinforcing health surveillance systems
Context:
India has reported a rise in patent applications filed by Indian residents. But the issues of long pendency in the India patent ecosystem are causing hindrances to innovation. The same has also been highlighted in the recent report of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM).
What are the Issues?
- Increase in Abandoned applications: Annual Report (2019-20) of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, Trademarks and Geographical Indications (CGPDTM) shows that the number of abandoned patent applications, has increased by almost 350%.
- Long pendency discourages Innovation: Innovations usually have short-life spans, and delays in the processing of patent applications discourage applicants from following up on their applications.
- Perverse incentives for Patent Filling: National Intellectual Property Rights Policy 2016, emphasis more on patent filing, which encourages the filing of patent applications even when the innovator knows that their claims will not pass scrutiny.
- Limited collaboration between the industry and academia: Innovations from India, originating from collaborative research projects, and implemented and commercialized in the automotive space have been scarce.