India set to talk generics barriers with African states

NEW DELHI: The issue of low-price quality medicines made by Indian drug companies being tagged as spurious or counterfeit in African countries has spurred the government to initiate diplomatic efforts.

Along with Brazil, another major exporter of generic drugs, India will work at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the issue. The commerce department has also convened a meeting of ambassadors to major African countries this week to discuss the issue.

Kenya and Uganda had recently passed legislations seeking to classify drugs patented anywhere in the world as counterfeits. ���The Act could restrict the entry of Indian generic drugs into Africa. The actions by the African countries in this regard are against the basic spirit of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights,��� a government official said. According to the Kenyan law passed last December, copies or generic versions of all products having patent protection in Kenya or elsewhere can be considered ���counterfeit��� in case of an intellectual property dispute with the patent holder.

The Indian pharma industry has been seeking diplomatic intervention to have the contentious provisions amended. According to some estimates, India���s drug exports to Africa account for 14% of a total of $8 billion. The drug exports to Kenya and Uganda is worth Rs 342 crore and Rs 185 crore, respectively.