Alfred Sant jesprimi dubju dwar it-trasparenza tal-istrateġija tal-UE għat-tilqim tal-Covid-19

Permezz tal-Istrateġija tal-UE dwar il-Vaċċini mnedija f’Ġunju 2020, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea nnegozjat u kkonkludiet ftehim ta’ xiri bil-quddiem ma’ żviluppaturi tal-vaċċini f’isem il-pajjiżi tal-UE.

Matul dibattitu plenarju fil-Parlament Ewropew, Alfred Sant qal li d-direzzjoni komuni tal-UE dwar strateġija biex jiġi żgurat l-iżvilupp ta’ vaċċin COVID-19, u l-immunizzazzjoni eventwali tal-popolazzjoni, kien ta’ min ifaħħru u ħaqqu appoġġ ġenerali.

Madanakollu, għad fadal ħafna dubji dwar l-implimentazzjoni tagħha. Qamu lmenti dwar ir-ritmu ta’ kif jitwasslu l-vaċċini fuq livell Ewropew. Minkejja li huma protagonisti ewlenin fil-finanzjament tal-iżvilupp ta’ vaċċin, il-pajjiżi tal-UE għadhom lura fil-mod kif jorganizzaw biex jamministrawha lill-popolazzjonijiet tagħhom.

“Kif saru l-arranġamenti? Kif issa qed jiġu riveduti? U liema restrizzjonijiet tħallew jantiċipaw l-manifattura tal-vaċċin minn firxa usa’ ta’ parteċipanti fis-suq? Kien każ sempliċi ta’ aċċettazzjoni li taħt ir-regoli tas-suq ħieles, il-kumpaniji farmaċewtiċi kellhom bżonn iżommu drittijiet esklussivi fuq il-produzzjoni tal-vaċċini? U x’inhu l-pjan għal distribuzzjoni f’waqtha tal-vaċċini madwar id-dinja?”, staqsa Alfred Sant.

Fix-xenarju attwali tas-saħħa pubblika mad-dinja kollha, vaċċin kontra l-COVID ma jistax ma jitqiesx bħala parti mill-ġid pubbliku. Tgħoġbokx jew le, hija gwerra, qal Alfred Sant. Jekk hemm bżonn biex jiġu żgurati l-mezzi biex tirbaħ il-gwerra, l-oġġetti privati kollha jsiru pubbliċi.

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Alfred Sant questions transparency of EU strategy for Covid-19 vaccinations 

Under the EU Vaccines Strategy launched in June 2020, the European Commission negotiated and concluded advance purchase agreements with vaccines developers on behalf of EU countries. 

During a plenary debate in the European Parliament, Alfred Sant said the common EU approach on a strategy to assure the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, and the eventual immunisation of the population, was commendable and deserved across-the-board support.

Still, many doubts remain about its implementation. Complaints have arisen about the rhythm of deliveries of vaccines at a European level. Despite being major players in financing the development of a vaccine, EU countries are lagging when organizing to administer it to their populations. 

“How were deals done? How are they now being revised? And what constraints were allowed to pre-empt manufacture of the vaccine by a wider range of players in the market? Has it been a simple case of accepting that under free market rules, pharmaceutical companies needed to maintain exclusive rights on the production of vaccines? And what is the plan for a timely worldwide distribution of the vaccines?”, Alfred Sant asked.

In the current public health scenario worldwide, an anti-COVID vaccine cannot but be considered as a public good. Like it or not, it’s a war, Alfred Sant said. If needed to secure the means to win the war, all private goods become public.