Philanthropist Bill Gates said market-driven factors should not guide who gets medication or forthcoming vaccines for the coronavirus.

Gates, the billionaire founder of tech giant Microsoft, spoke about the need for equity when it comes to treating COVID-19 and argued that resource allocation should give preference to places and people in need, not just those willing to pay the highest price.

If we just let drugs and vaccines go to the highest bidder, instead of to the people and the places where they are most needed, well have a longer, more unjust, deadlier pandemic, Gates said in a video statement on Saturday. We need leaders to make these hard decisions about distributing based on equity, not just on market-driven factors.

Gatess remarks came during a virtual conference about the coronavirus hosted by the International AIDS Society. He noted how the HIV/AIDS crisis forced countries to work together to make medications accessible to those who needed them, including in Africa.

One of the best lessons in the fight against HIV/AIDS is the importance of building this large, fair global distribution system to get the drugs out to everyone, Gates said.

Gates has been one of the most outspoken figures in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and has donated some $300 million through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for coronavirus relief.

Go here to see the original:

Bill Gates: Coronavirus medicine and vaccines should not 'go to the highest bidder' - Washington Examiner