The subject matter of granting patent rights to individuals and companies is regulated by the Patents Act, 1970 administered by the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. That Department has informed that the said Act, as amended in the year 2005, already establishes a fair balance between the interests of patent holders and public health.
In order to make available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to all, a countrywide campaign in the name of ˜Jan Aushadhi Campaign™ was initiated by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the State Governments by way of opening of Jan Aushadhi Generic Drug Stores in the Government Hospitals. As per the information made available by that Department, 154 Jan Aushadhi Stores have been opened so far (till 31st March, 2013) in twelve States / UTs, namely, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttrakhand, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.
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