The Ayurveda community in the country has initiated to evolve an effective proactive strategy to counter the increasing incidence of traditional Ayurvedic concepts being patented by overseas countries.

Stalwarts of the Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers and practitioners, IPR and legal experts are likely to sit together and discuss strategies in this regard at a one-day symposium organized in Thiruvananthapuram on 10th of April 2004.

The meet is initiated and supported jointly by the Kerala Ayurveda Protection Council led by Dr.K.Jyothilal, Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organization of India (AMMOI) and the patent cell of the Kerala Government. The meet has immense significance considering the ongoing controversy related to the loss of trademark rights of TBGRI's Jeevani to a U.S. firm, in the wake of a series of articles published in Pharmabiz, noted Dr.D.Ramanathan, general secretary of AMMOI.

"We have been expressing in various platforms and media, our concerns on the increasing interest of westerners in cornering the traditional concepts of Ayurveda. Now we realize it is futile unless we initiate a concerted effort involving all stakeholders related to Ayurveda, besides IPR and legal experts. The meet will analyze the current scenario related to the misuse of Ayurvedic concepts, ways to pressurize the Government to initiate action and revoke the incidents already happened, and strategies for evolving an effective mechanism to counter future infringements," said Dr.Ramanathan.

According to Dr.Jyothilal, unless the India Government acts faster, the foreigners would hijack Ayurveda itself. "We are in the process of compiling the database on various patent registrations by individuals and firms in various countries, and ways to safeguard our interests. It has been observed that numerous active ingredients related to Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing for centuries have been patented by firms in U.S., France, Germany etc," said Dr.Jyothilal.

"The concepts of Ayurveda fall under public domain, and most of these firms have been patenting Ayurveda related ingredients and our herbs for one or more properties or indications. In Ayurveda, one herb is associated with curing of one or more diseases. If the trend continues, a scenario will emerge wherein the Ayurvedic manufacturers in the country may not be able to manufacture any Ayurvedic drugs in future," noted Dr.Ramanathan.