_PRESS RELEASE_
The Affordable Medicines and Treatment Campaign (AMTC)
C/o Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit
Address: 7/10 Botawalla Building, 2^nd floor, Horniman Circle, Fort,
Mumbai â 400 023
Phone no: 022-22630889
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Contact person: K M Gopakumar - 9819140881
_ _
_For Release: 18 March 2005_
/_Concerns Regarding Patents Bill 2005 introduced in the
Loksabha_/
/_18 March 2005 _/
On 18 March 2005 the government of India introduced the Patents Bill,
2005 in the Lok Sabha based on the highly controversial Patents
Ordinance, 2004. Despite there being public debate and opposition to
the provisions of the Patents Ordinance 2004, the government did not
feel it necessary to take into consideration the concerns of health
experts and the people. The governmentâs insensitivity was
particularly manifested in the fact that not a single line of the
Ordinance has been changed in the Patents Bill. Many groups including
the* Affordable Medicines and Treatment Campaign (AMTC) *have*
*raised* *objections* *against the contents of the Patents Ordinance
and the manner in which it was promulgated.
All the provisions in the Ordinance that are beyond TRIPS have been
retained in the Bill and flexibilities under TRIPS to safeguard health
have been ignored.
We have no doubt whatsoever that if enacted in its present form, the
provisions of the Patents Bill will seriously jeopardize public
health. AMTC strongly demands the inclusion of the following
provisions in the Patents Bill to safeguard public health:
1. A clear definition of *âPatentable Criteriaâ*
2. *No patents for new usage and dosage* of known drugs
3. Retain *pre-grant opposition *in its original form
4. Simple procedures with a time limit for grant of *Compulsory
Licences*
5. Introduction of *ceiling on royalty* to pharmaceutical companies
*/ /*
The AMTC demands the removal of *âTRIPS PLUSâ *provisions and that the
Bill be referred to a Parliamentary Select Committee.
