Canada can override patents to combat drug, equipment shortages during the pandemic

The federal government now has additional powers to override patents for drugs, vaccines and medical equipment as needed to secure critical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic Amendments to the Patent Act under Canada's COVID-19 Emergency Response Act make it possible for the federal government-or anyone it designates-to make, use and sell patented inventions "to the extent necessary to respond to a public health emergency " Effectively, the act enables Ottawa to combat price gouging or shortages of any needed product, from vaccines to ventilators, by licensing companies to make generic copies of brand-name products without having to negotiate with patent holders These compulsory licenses would last only a year, and patent holders would receive "adequate" compensation, to be determined after the fact