The recent ordinance on patent amendment brought by the Indian Government is part of a grand design of the developed world and multinationals to kill local industries and conquer the world markets, according to N H Israni, senior industry professional.

Attending a seminar organized by IDMA and Pharmexcil in Chennai last week on implications of new product-patent regime, he alleged the US President himself has been pushing this agenda to make the world conform to the US views. Apart from the US President, the heads of UK, Japan and many other EU nations are pressuring developing nations like India to incorporate relevant changes in their patent systems, promising sops like more trade, easing of visa norms and more funds from international funding agencies like IMF and World Bank.

He noted that in the field of drugs, these countries have been bringing in more stringent standards to deny business for Indian manufacturers. The quality and GMP standards insisted by these countries are becoming more and more stringent, and in the case of pharmacopoeia they prefer USP and BP, and not Indian pharmacopoeia. Similarly, registration procedures to US and Europe markets are becoming more and more difficult. These countries have been advocating developing nations to ensure stringent regulatory mechanisms, which suit only the interests of multinationals.

The profits of ten multinational pharmaceutical companies are more than the combined turnover of 550 Fortune 500 companies and they have money power to dictate and dominate the world markets, noted Israni, also chairman of IPR Sub-Committee, IDMA.

Narendra B Zaveri, patent attorney, Mumbai, elaborated on the controversial aspects of the ordinance and how it would affect Indian drug manufacturers. S V Veeraamani, VP, IDMA welcomed the gathering and T Ravichandran, chairman, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), Tamil Nadu State Board proposed vote of thanks.