Patents For AIDS Drugs Would Hike Prices Without India Safeguards
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
If patents are granted in India for AIDS drugs, their cost could increase so much HIV patients in the country could have problems getting them, the government said. But the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers also said India's Patent Act contains safeguards against that event. The country also has access to anti-retrovirals in bulk from international companies bidding to supply the drugs, the minister said. India also has an agreement with an international agency to supply free AVR drugs for children and other second-line ARV drugs that would be administered for free. (Click here for more