New patent laws in India not patient- friendly

03 August, 2005

The 1994 agreements with World Trade Organisation has forced India to tighten its patent laws bringing about new rules to regulate generic drugs critical in treating HIV. Till now India operated on a system which issued patent for the process of manufacturing drugs but not for the drugs itself.

The patent system helped India's biotechnology industry and India became world's largest exporter of generic drugs, reaching patients in 200 countries. Under the new program India will issue patent for the drug developed and this will reduce generic drug flow and make drugs more expensive. HIV patients who were receiving treatments with cheaper generic drugs might suffer regular medications due to the strict patent laws which is being considered patient unfriendly.

For more information read:
http://www.asiasociety.org/pressroom/oped_genericdrugs.html