Speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Business and Investment Summit here, Prime Minister Modi declared that India was committed to protecting intellectual property. This reassuring commitment to IPR follows a few weeks after the PM’s visit to London where he spoke of ‘Ease of Doing Business’, ‘liberalization of the FDI regime, ‘Make in India’ and also IPR. He said, “I am personally convinced and want to assure you that India is committed to protect Intellectual Property Rights of all innovators and entrepreneurs. We have taken several initiatives for transparency and online processing in IP administration. A comprehensive National IPR policy is being finalized.”
A recent ASSOCHAM report titled ‘The Indian Pharmaceutical Industry: Changing Dynamics and the Road Ahead’, flags areas where concerted sustained efforts need to be made by Indian pharmaceutical companies on indigenous drug discovery and innovation.
Representatives of the government and the pharmaceutical industry met at CII’s 12th National Pharmaceutical Conclave, recently, to discuss ways of addressing India’s national health challenges. There was consensus within the industry that the ‘time is now’ to convert intent into action.