Indian leader urged to resist pressure on patent changes

Healthcare advocate Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to change IP laws which allow for the production of generic medicines.

In a statement, Rohit Malpani, director of policy for MSF’s access campaign, a project that aims to provide medicine to those who can’t afford it, said India’s patent laws had fostered “robust competition” and brought the cost of medicines down.

The urge from MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, comes as Modi is visiting the US in an attempt to bolster trade and investment.

He met President Barack Obama at a White House dinner on Monday (September 29), and the two are set to hold further talks today (September 30).

MSF claimed US officials had “stepped up” pressure on India, particularly on the issue of patents, as the Western country fears India's IP regime is undermining the interests of US pharmaceutical firms.

But Malpani said India offered a vital life line which had brought the cost of medicines down by more than 90% in some cases.

“India’s production of affordable medicines is a vital lifeline for MSF’s medical humanitarian operations and millions of people in developing countries,” said Malpani.

He added: “The world can’t afford to see India’s pharmacy shut down by US commercial interests.”

Earlier this year, the US Trade Representative put India on the priority watch list in its  Special 301 Report, an annual run down of the quality of its trading partners’ IP systems.

In May, WIPR  reported that victory for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party could bring positive results in terms of new IP laws.

Malpani added: “MSF urges Prime Minister Modi to continue India’s leadership in global health, and stand firm in protecting public health in the face of mounting US pressure."