Dear Doctor/Colleague
The Novartis, a Swiss Multinational pharmaceutical company operating in India,has challenged the order of the Patent Office in Chennai, rejecting its application for a patent on
IMATINIB MESYLATE which Novartis markets in India under the trade name Gleevec. In the second application filed in the Chennai High Court, Novartis had challenged the
constitutional validity of Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act by claiming that this section does not comply with the TRIPs agreement
It is a matter of grave concern that a foreign company chose to challenge the constitution ability of a law that has been passed by the Indian Parliamentto safeguard public health. Members of the medical profession need to be particularly concerned about such attempted misuse of use of Indian Legal System.
As you would know, Imatinib mesylate is extremely useful in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Treatment with Gleevec (manufactured and marketed by Novartis) costs rupees 1,20,000 per month, whereas Indian companies ( Cipla/Ranbaxy) market the same drug at a price of about Rs. 8,000 per month.
If a patent were to be granted to Novartis for imatinib mesylate, some Indian companies may be forced to stop production of the drug denying access to it to 99% of patients. It will open the floodgates for the MNC’s so that they too can apply for trivial patents.
Haryana Vigyan manch and Jan Sawasthaya Abhiyan Haryana appeal to you as a medical Professional to bycott products that are manufactured and marketed by Novartis by refraining from prescribing drugs that are marketed by Novartis.
Sincerely Yours
R.S. Dahiya Ved Pirya
President Haryana Vigyan Manch Secretary ,Haryana Vigyan Manch
9812139001 9992132961
No comments:
Post a Comment