...As Expert Says Patent Laws Outdated

Shahid Alikhan, former deputy director general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, a Geneva-based organisation of the United Nations, has called for updating Indian patent laws to keep pace with international standards and ensure sustained socio-economic development.

Addressing a seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on intellectual property rights in healthcare yesterday, Alikhan said, the Indian patent laws are still ancient. There is an urgent need to modernise them to keep pace with international thinking.

He said, India is still walking on the crutches of ancient patent laws while other developing countries, particularly China have advanced in upgrading the intellectual property systems during the past few years. We should follow Chinas example with regard to joining all the international intellectual property projects.

 

He also suggested the setting up of a national policy body to deal with issues concerning intellectual property rights.

He lamented the fact that the countrys enforcement agencies were not performing their role effectively in checking piracy in software, films, music and publishing.

He also urged the CII to play a pro-active role in setting up a national intellectual property institute, which would also function as a think-tank. Let there be no involvement from the government in the proposed institute. Let this be an institute of, for and by the industry.

The seminar was attended by chiefs of pharmaceutical companies in the northern region, scientists of the Chandigarh-based Institute of Microbial Technology and medical experts.

In his keynote address, Alikhan also called upon various organisations, including the CII, to set up a national inventors association for promoting science and technology. He said such associations exist in 80 countries, including 40 developing countries.

He also emphasised the need for adopting medical insurance for ensuring better healthcare. He said, India has a huge middle class today, which can easily afford medical insurance. This will also help the poor as they will be able to get more attention and proper treatment in government hospitals.

Replying to questions later, he agreed that health should remain the states concern and the government should make maximum efforts to create more beds in hospitals for poor patients.

He urged the pharmaceutical industry to concentrate on research and development. He praised Ranbaxy in this regard and suggested joint ventures to achieve the goal of adequate research and development in the pharmaceutical industry.

Alikhans felt the industry should help in the growth of environment-friendly technology to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development.