Patent bill may be pushed through Parliament without debate

THE Ministry of Science and Technology has introduced a bill in the Parliament that may make life-saving drugs unaffordable for poor people. The bill gives scientists and researchers in government-funded universities the right to patent innovations and research outcomes. This includes medical research and patenting drug formulas would affect drug prices.
The legislation titled The Protection and Utilization of Public Funded Intellectual Property Bill 2008, was introduced in the winter session of Parliament ending December 7. On December 18, 2008, the Rajya Sabha chairperson referred the bill to the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests.
V Maitreyan, chairperson of the committee said the ministry officials presented their case on January 27 but the decision on the bill would be taken after elections.D Raja, a committee member, said the bill might be pushed through without considering the standing committee