New norms for compulsory pharma licenses unlikely: Sources

Having compulsory licences for pharmaceutical companies has been a hot topic of discussion since almost the past one year. The issue now seems to be resolved. Sources in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) have told CNBC-TV18's Rituparna Bhuyan that there won't be any additional guidelines.

Also, the department believes that the Indian Patent Act and rules are enough to meet compulsory licensing and would decide such applications on a case-to-case basis. DIPP had, in August 2010, prepared a discussion paper examining the option of introducing compulsory licensing under the Indian Patent Act in the pharmaceutical sector. Compulsory licensing can be used by the government to allow third parties to produce and market a patented product or process without the consent of the right's owner, thus ensuring the availability of the drug at a reasonable price. Sources from the nodal government department which oversees patent office in India, have said that the controller of patents would not delegate power to subordinates. Flashback: DIPP anxious over foreign takeover of Indian pharma Should govt tighten norms in pharma?