Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Patent Act amendment opposed

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, JULY 18. The Andhra Pradesh Medical and Sales Representatives Union, Kurnool branch, opposed the move to amend the Indian Patent Act, 1970.

Talking to reporters, the leaders, Pedda Swamy, Koteswara Rao, Venkatesh and Prasad Sarma, said the Centre was under pressure from the WTO and the multinationals to amend the Act, which excluded 29 items including life-saving drugs and agriculture products from its purview.

Because of the provision, Indian companies could produce many life-saving drugs and supply them at affordable prices. Also, the prices of certain drugs were the lowest in India when compared to the prices elsewhere in the world. The country not only had achieved self-sufficiency in drug manufacturing but was exporting to other countries.

Drawing a comparison between the drug prices in various countries, they said Norfloxacin was available at Rs. 2 in India while the same drug was sold at Rs. 62 in the US, Rs. 12.55 in Pakistan. Diclofenac was priced at 50 paise in India while it was being sold at Rs. 23.44 in US, Rs. 4.75 in UK, Rs. 5.58 in Pakistan. Rantidine is priced at 75 paise (India), Rs. 74.45 (US), Rs. 23.43 (UK) and Rs. 26 (Pakistan). Aprofloxacin is being sold at Rs. 2 (India), Rs. 30.50 (India), Rs. 24 (Pakistan).

They said if the country yielded to the pressure being exerted by the MNCs, the poor would die of diseases not because there was no treatment available but on account of unaffordable cost of medicines. While the prices of AIDS drugs were exorbitant in African countries, they were being supplied at reasonable prices in the country. The amendment to the Patent Act would affect the prices of fertilizers, pesticides, automobile and other industries.

The Union planned to take out a rally here on Monday to educate the public about the implications of the amendment. It would also submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the district Collector.

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