National   

SAARC Health Ministers' meet begins today

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV.13. Health Ministers of the SAARC nations are meeting here on Friday and Saturday for a detailed discussion on the scenario that is expected to emerge following the introduction of the product patent regime in the pharmaceutical sector in 2005.

The Ministers would discuss the concerns over the possibility of an increase in the prices of drugs because of the introduction of the product patent regime and its impact on the Indian pharmaceutical industry, which has more expertise in producing generic drugs than on development of new drug molecules.

The meeting, which would be the first ever conclave of SAARC Health Ministers, would also discuss the patent and other IPR (intellectual property rights) issues relating to the use of herbal-based medicines and measures for mainstreaming of the traditional systems of medicine in the healthcare delivery systems. The Union Health Minister, Sushma Swaraj, told mediapersons that the meeting would also discuss women's health, particularly the steps required to tackle the problem of high maternal mortality rates in the region.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Stamp paper scam part of enemy's conspiracy: Advani
• Ill-feeling in the name of religion decried
• ``Hope journalists' issue will be sorted out''
• Vasundhara Raje to contest two seats in Rajasthan
• Jayalalithaa should reciprocate the gesture, says Swamy
• Survey projects majority for Cong. in Delhi, Rajasthan
• Not a word against any Indian Minister: Rashid Ahmed
• Stamp paper scam: Mumbai police chief wants to `shift out'
• Jharkhand reviewing POTA cases every month, NCW told
• Special patrol on trains from Bihar
• NHRC poser on illegal cremations case
• Bihar `link' to stamp paper scam
• Convergence on the Konkan Railway
• Chasing `ghost' ships
• SAARC Health Ministers' meet begins today
• Thackeray opposes cricketing ties with Pak.
• Claim on Buddha's birthplace to be examined
• AIMCET on June 6
• Cong. to field sitting MLA
• Pak. nod for Geelani's Hurriyat
• A.P. Cong. leaders discuss preparedness

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu