Pharma companies should have clear rules for business in India: Germany

NEW DELHI: Noting that innovation needs to be "acknowledged", Germany today expressed hope that pharma firms would have clear rules to rely on for business in India following the Supreme Court's judgement in the Novartis patent -related case.

"Innovation has to be acknowledged. Innovation does need a fair price," German Health Minister Daniel Bahr said while stressing on the need for innovation by pharma companies to invent new improved drugs.

"Pharmaceuticals can be provided at affordable prices. Innovation should be promoted, but patent protection is required to promote innovation," Bahr said, adding that Germany wants to make innovations available to everyone and this has to be affordable. He said his country was taking a close look at the Novartis judgement, and hoped that it would not affect ties.

"I don't believe the Novartis case can affect cooperation between India and Germany in the health sector. We have got some explanations and the Indian government feels Novartis case is not the same as the Bayer case. There have been many reactions among pharma companies globally.

"A feeling of uncertainty has been there due to this judgement. But strategic decisions are to be reinvented and the pre-condition is that there should be clear rules for pharma companies to rely on. We hope to make good progress on the issue and German pharma companies can hope for a fair dialogue," the German Health Minister said.

Bahr advocating stronger cooperation between Indian and Germany in the health sector, especially in training and immigration of medical and nursing professionals. The visiting minister, who met his Indian counterpart Ghulam Nabi Azad earlier in the day, spoke about the German Health Smart Card model which India plans to introduce.

Appreciating India's efforts in strengthening the health sector, he voiced concerns of German drug makers on the strong rules put in place for the clinical trial sector. Bahr led a 16-member delegation including three MPs and senior German officials and leaders of private pharma sector.
Other members of the delegation also expressed their views on the compulsory licensing of drugs and expressed hope that Indian authorities will show consistency and reliability while dealing with individual cases.

Azad mentioned about the recent changes made in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and assured the German delegation about the transparency while dealing with the cases of drug licenses. Both sides agreed that there is a need to further discuss various pending issues on medical technologies and drug licensing.

The talks were very open and productive and marked with mutual cooperation," Bahr said on his meeting with Azad. The German Minister offered cooperation in the field of medical technologies, training of medical professionals and in the pharma sector, besides health card and insurance.

Bahr evinced keen interest in the exchange of medical professionals and nurses and said there was good potential in the sector. He, however, said Germany was against "brain drain" and noted that his country has already partnered with three nations in exchange of nursing professionals.

Germany is an attractive destination in this regard and offers "safe jobs" and immigration to nurses and doctors in the country, he said.

"The smart card health project is a new beginning. The Indian side wants to have similar system to be introduced. The smart card project is a good start to the growing relations between the two countries. We are awaiting the Indian government's response. We have also partnered with Abu Dhabi which is offering health insurance to its employees based on the German model," Bahr told mediapersons.