Piyush Goyal Lashes Out at Pharma Giants for Blocking Affordable Healthcare

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 28 April 2025, 09:05:44 AM IST

Piyush Goyal Lashes Out at Pharma Giants for Blocking Affordable Healthcare
Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal strongly condemned efforts by international pharma majors to seek patent extensions for drugs through incremental minor innovations that may deny millions access to affordable healthcare.
Speaking to the World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting Asia 2025, hosted at Bharat Mandapam here, the minister asserted that, in contrast to most other countries which resorted to export controls during Covid-19, India gave paramount importance to universal and equitable access to all, remaining rooted in its ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam 'the world is one family'.
The minister was attacking evergreening patents, through firms that tactically elongate patent protection of their products, frequently through minor modifications or asserting novel uses, so as to forestall or hinder the entry of generic competitors. This enables them to preserve their market monopoly and enjoy high prices for longer than the normal 20-year life of a patent.
Conversely, Goyal pointed out India's active and humane international response during the Covid-19 pandemic that supplied close to 300 million doses of vaccines, most at no cost, to less developed and vulnerable nations as part of the nation's 'World is One Family' initiative.
Goyal praised the theme that the inaugural WHS Regional Meeting in Asia had been "Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity". He observed that access to good healthcare is a key component of sustainable development. The Minister reflected on direct personal interactions with international leaders during the pandemic, observing how India secured the availability of essential medicines at reasonable prices against the trend of profiteering from international health emergencies.
Sharing India's experience in the process of enhancing healthcare access for everyone, the minister invited delegates to have a first-hand experience of India's initiative to provide quality healthcare even in far-flung areas.
Goyal pointed out that over 620 million individuals are now covered under the free healthcare provision of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the largest government-funded health insurance program in the world, highlighting that India's intent was never profit but compassion.
Referring to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the minister stated: "For us, healthcare is not curing an ailing patient. Healthcare is preventive healthcare, it is wellness, it is mental healthcare, and it means unifying society under one umbrella of a good lifestyle and a good future".
He discussed India's comprehensive vision for human well-being, such as the Swachh Bharat Mission which guarantees sanitation and dignity, particularly for women; the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, with more than 40 million houses already constructed and tens of millions more in progress; the Jal Jeevan Mission, which has increased access to tap water from 30 million to 160 million rural households; the Ujjwala Yojana, with free cooking gas connections to keep women safe from indoor air pollution; and the supply of free food grains to 800 million citizens amid and post-pandemic.
Goyal made a statement to the effect that physical well-being, mental happiness, hygienic surroundings, quality education, digital connectivity, and economic self-reliance are all intertwined as the fundamental components of an ideal healthy society.
Reasserting India's devotion to the global health strategy, he invoked all nations of the world to unite in order to create a healthier, equitable world for every citizen of this planet.

ON THE DECK

Top Banner

Related Articles