Research and development and also the popularisation of the Siddha system of medicine assumes importance in view of the new patent regime taking effect from 2005, according to Laxman Prasad, advisor, Department of Science and Technology.

Speaking at a national seminar on Siddha medicine at Tamil Nadu University here on Tuesday, he said that R&D in the pharmaceutical sector faced three challenges - the constitutional obligation under Art 21 (right to life), Art 39 (promise of basic health) and Art 47 (rising of nutritional levels for one billion).

The second was the time taken and money pumped into the invention of a drug, for which at least Rs 15 crore was needed for research. At present, drug companies were spending less than one per cent on R&D.

The last was patent registration, which was all the more important since the third WTO agreement would become operational from January 1, 2005.

Listing the steps taken by the Centre to boost R&D in the pharmaceutical sector, he said the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) had been entrusted with raising funds through industries. The Department of Science and Technology had been implementing the drugs and pharmaceutical research programme. The programme also supported establishment of national facilities in drug research. An amount of Rs 58 crore had so far been invested under the programme, he said.

The seminar was organised jointly by the Department of Siddha Medicine and Earth Sciences of Tamil University.