"Right To Life Must Prevail Over...": Rights Body Chief On Covid Drugs

NHRC Chairman Justice (Retd) Arun Mishra said the world is facing the colossal loss caused by COVID-19 and new challenges have emerged for protecting the life and livelihoods of the marginalised sections of the society.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman Justice (Retired) Arun Mishra on Tuesday said the right to life should prevail over the rights of patent holders to ensure that the scarcity of life-saving drugs, medicines and vaccines relating to COVID-19 is overcome and are made available to the poor at affordable prices. Addressing an online global meeting of Human Rights Council, Justice Mishra spoke at the session on states response to the COVID-19. Justice Mishra said that the world is facing the colossal loss caused by COVID-19 and new challenges have emerged for protecting the life and livelihoods of the marginalised sections of the society, education has suffered, healthcare infrastructure fell short, families left destitute and children orphaned. Highlighting efforts by NHRC to combat COVID, he said: "NHRC, India through its various interventions including advisories has been trying to sensitive the systems of governance to deal with such an unprecedented situation. Even the dignity of the dead had to be taken care of by the NHRC India."