“It’s a great decision from the point of view of access to medicines but also from the point of view of a much needed rethink of how the patent system works both for India and also in other countries,” said Amin. He dismissed the response from pharma companies about reconsidering their plans for India as “hot air” and said the main impact in India was likely to be on the pace of takeovers and mergers of Indian companies with bigger MNCs. “This may give Indian companies some breathing room to bring products out and keep their independence. When you have laws which allow more patenting then basically you’re blocked and you say what’s the point in fighting them, I might as well sell out and go, whereas if there’s room to operate the decision may give them the opportunity,” Amin said.
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