The social function of intellectual property and government intervention in mitigating the pandemic: A perspective from Indonesia

Indonesia declared Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency based on Presidential Decree No. 11 of 2020 considering the extensive victims and extraordinary impacts. This study analyzes how Indonesia addresses the social function of intellectual property and government intervention in mitigating the pandemic. This study shows that outside the patent waiver provisions, implementation is the key. Indonesian Government has set a strategic framework in accordance with the guidelines of the WHO by simultaneously takes two strategies of vaccine provision and procurement: First, purchasing vaccines from abroad and/or collaborating with national and/or international institutions, Second, the development of ‘Vaksin Merah Putih’ (Red and White Vaccine) independently in the country through a triple helgix synergy involving the government institutions/ministries, universities, and industries. The provision of COVID-19 Vaccines in Indonesia is free as a form of responsibility and presence of the state. Government is also continuously expanding its public communication network to eliminate vaccine hesitancy. Lastly, Indonesia has adopted the TRIPs Waiver provisions through the Indonesian Patent Law, Government Regulation Number 77 of 2020 concerning Procedures for Patent Implementation by the Government, Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights No. 14 of 2021 concerning Amendments to the Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights No. 30 of 2019 concerning Procedures for Granting a Compulsory Patent License. These regulations will later become the basis for the government, whether it will eventually implement a patent license through a compulsory license system or a government use the patent system not only for the COVID-19 vaccine but also other essential medicines in mitigating the pandemic.