Opinion The right medicine
This refers to SC rejects Novartis plea for patent protection
The right medicine
This refers to SC rejects Novartis plea for patent protection (IE,April 2). The Supreme Court is right to refuse Novartiss demand for a patent for the cancer drug,Glivec. Charging patients an exorbitant amount of Rs 1.2 lakh per dose,as opposed to the Rs 8,000 needed for generic drugs,is unreasonable. It also shows no value for human life,even though the company claims its main concern is that the courts judgment will affect research and development in India.
Deepak Chikramane
KUDOS to the Supreme Court for rejecting Swiss drugmaker Novartiss demand for exclusive patent rights on Glivec. Last October,while expressing concern about the prices of vital drugs,a Supreme Court bench had said If minimum wages is a yardstick for economic situation,then one would have to go hungry for two days in order to afford antibiotics. The exorbitant prices of branded medicines have made treatment unaffordable for a vast majority of people suffering from cardiac disorders,diabetes,hypertension,cancer and other ailments,who require regular medication. The huge difference between the cost of branded medicine and a generic drug is shared by the manufacturers,sellers and doctors.
M.C. Joshi
Litmus test
THIS refers to the editorial Party and the mascot (IE,April 1). With Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modis stature growing rapidly,his inclusion in Team Rajnath was a foregone conclusion. Bereft of ideas,the BJP now looks to Modi to deliver in the next general elections. However,his foray into the partys parliamentary board and poll panel cannot be seen merely as a testimony of his growing influence in the BJP. It is also a litmus test for Modi. If the Modi magic does not work outside Gujarat,his national ambitions will be badly punctured.
Vijai Pant
Kashipur
A damp squib
THE drought situation in Maharashtra,combined with Tamil Nadus ban on Sri Lankan players,seems to indicate that IPL 6 will be a colourless tournament (Dont hold IPL matches in state,says Tawde,IE,April 1). The League is likely to see water being used in plenty to slow the pace on the wickets in places like Wankhede. The opposition is right to object to matches being held in a state where several districts are reeling under a severe drought. Leaders in the Maharashtra government can deny reports of water shortage in Mumbai and Pune. They seem to be blind to the suffering of farmers and people in the rural areas of the state.
C.K. Subramaniam
Navi Mumbai
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