Discussions were held on how a good policy environment can reward innovation and protect intellectual property rights
The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) recently organised a panel discussion on ‘IPR Regime for Healthy and Innovative India’ at the National Law School University (NLSU), on the eve of the World IP Day. This event was part of OPPI’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and in line with the theme ‘50 Years: Healthy India, Innovative India.’
The event had a panel discussion moderated by Prof (Dr) Ramakrishna, NLSU. Dr VM Katoch, Former Secretary to the Dept of Health Research, MoHFW, Krishna Sarma, Managing Director, Corporate Law Group; Prof Chirantan Chatterjee, Corporate Strategy and Policy Assistant Professor, IIM Bangalore and Dr Ratna Devi, Founding Member, Indian Alliance of Patient Groups took part in the panel discussion. Law students, representatives from law firms, members from the pharma industry and faculty members from NLSU and other law schools in Bangalore attended the event.
The broad conclusion of the day was that innovation in the bio-pharmaceutical industry requires a robust regulatory system that ensures drug quality and safety, a well-financed health system that provides timely patient access to novel therapies, and a policy environment that rewards innovation and protects intellectual property rights.
Ranjana Smetacek, Director General, OPPI, said, “Protecting intellectual property will help bring new solutions to treat patients suffering from rare diseases and new medicines to save and improve lives. We would like to see more medical innovation being created and introduced in our country. Ultimately, we would like to see a healthy India and an innovative India.”