Reply: Article 31 of the TRIPS (Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property rights) Agreement talks about the use of patented innovations without the permission of the right holder.
Various circumstances have been specified, of which one such circumstance is situations of national emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency.
There have been previous instances in which it has been clarified that epidemic falls under national emergency.
So, all countries that opted out of Art.31 TRIPS have more difficulty to use patented drugs.
Thus, answering your query – the patent rights for the drugs produced during pandemic which is essential for recovery of the situation will be suspended for the welfare of the public at large in the countries which has accepted the conditions of TRIPS agreement.
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