Question : RCEP Impact on Pharma Sector

(a) whether the Government has noticed that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, (RCEP) which profoundly impacts the intellectual property rights to be negotiated, which is being pressurised by Japan, will lead to the issue that India may lose its status as the pharmaceutical hub of the world;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether agreeing to data exclusivity, extending patenting terms and unduly strong enforcement measures will weaken the generic pharmaceutical sector and will come in direct conflict with section 3 (d) of the Indian Patents Act;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether this will make medicines expensive and inaccessible not just for Indians but for the entire developing world; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V.K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) to (f) The Intellectual Property Right (IPR) chapter including elements such as data exclusivity, extension of patent term, and enforcement in the proposed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement have not yet been finalised.

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