The European Parliament has urged the EU to back a push for a temporary waiver of coronavirus vaccine patents, in the face of scepticism from Brussels and key member states.

Lawmakers voting narrowly approved an amendment calling on the bloc to back an Indian and South African proposal to the World Trade Organisation “for a temporary waiver on intellectual property (IP) rights for Covid-19 vaccines, equipment and treatments”, according to AFP.

The text, which was attached to an unrelated health motion by MEPs from The Left (GUE), also “urges pharmaceutical companies to share their knowledge and data”.