In a major move, influential five-nation grouping BRICS on Tuesday supported a proposal by India and South Africa to temporarily waive patents on Covid-19 vaccines.
India is currently the chair of the grouping that also includes Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa.
The group on Tuesday described Covid-19 as the most serious global challenges in recent history.
The BRICS foreign ministers meet on Tuesday underlined the urgency for expeditious development and deployment of Covid-19 vaccines, especially in developing countries. The group also called for further close cooperation among various stakeholders for a diversified vaccine portfolio.
The US and several other countries have also supported the proposal to waive patents on Covid vaccines.