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Hi John,

This weekend health ministers from major economies around the world will meet virtually to address the impact of Covid-19. As coronavirus continues to hit the most vulnerable hardest everywhere, the outcome of this G20 meeting is critical. We need a global response to a global pandemic to ensure that big pharma’s profits won’t stop affordable access to vital testing, treatments and vaccines. The good news is that there’s already a strong proposal that could be a game-changer. 
 
Costa Rica has proposed a ‘global pool’ for Covid-19 treatments, vaccines and equipment to encourage co-operation in the face of this pandemic. The World Health Organisation and the Dutch government have already come out in favour of the global plan which would break big pharma monopolies over treatments for Covid-19. Health ministers this weekend could and should discuss it. 
 
Our health secretary Matt Hancock is due to participate in the meeting. Will you join thousands in sending his office a message and ask him to back a plan for a global pool for Covid-19, ensuring that testing, treatment and vaccines are made affordable for all? 
Take action
Yesterday, we sent a letter to the UK government along with other international health organisations and public health experts urging them to guarantee that any Covid-19 medicines or technologies created with public funds are available to all, patent-free. Earlier this week, 130 parliamentarians from all parties called on the government to do the same.
 
Although the UK government has put £250 million into researching a vaccine for Covid-19, there’s still no guarantee that it will be affordable for all.  Exclusive patents allow big pharmaceutical companies to monopolise treatments, preventing other manufacturers from producing cheaper alternatives. 
 
Ask our health secretary to ensure that he backs global access to vital testing, treatment and vaccines ahead of the G20 meeting this weekend. 
 
Email Matt Hancock's office
 Our profit-hungry pharmaceutical system is not fit for purpose. And it has already shown us what relying so heavily on big corporations to protect our health looks like. Public outrage forced big pharma giant Gilead into backtracking on securing an additionalmonopoly over a potential treatment for coronavirus despite already holding exclusive patents on the drug around the world until 2038. 

Governments must take action to sure that there is universal access to all the health products we need to tackle Covid-19. Backing Costa Rica’s proposal would be a step in the right direction.
 
Sharing access to products, know-how and research around the world would speed up innovation, remove monopolies and allow production on the scale needed to help meet the demand required by the world.
 
Email Matt Hancock’s office now to ensure the Costa Rica proposal is backed at the G20 meeting this weekend. Ask him to back global cooperation, not big pharma profits. 
Take action
Thank you 
 
Radhika Patel 
Campaigner at Global Justice Now 
 
MORE INFO 
 
[1] International organisations call on UK government to prevent Big Pharma profiteering from Covid-19, 16 April 2020, https://www.globaljustice.org.uk/news/2020/apr/16/international-organisations-call-uk-government-prevent-big-pharma-profiteering  
 
[2] Coronavirus: All-party plea to ensure all can access vaccine, 12 April 2020, https://www.thenational.scot/news/18374662.party-plea-make-sure-coronavirus-vaccine-available/ 
 
[3] We'll find a treatment for coronavirus – but drug companies will decide who gets it, 15 April 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/15/coronavirus-treatment-drug-companies
 
[4] To find a vaccine for coroanvirus, pharmaceutical companies will have to abandon the race for profit, 16 April 2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/coronavirus-vaccine-uk-pharmaceutical-companies-patent-monopoly-a9467381.html 
 
[5] To End this Pandemic We’ll Need a Free Vaccine Worldwide, 17 April 2020, https://time.com/5820963/end-pandemic-free-vaccine-worldwide/ 
 

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