Ram Raj Tripathi Prime Minister's Secretariat

I've called this meeting at the request of our Ministries of Health and Chemical industries; they asked if the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association representative could attend, and we welcome Shrimati Madhur.  

We have two topics.  One concerns India's internal policies regarding  our decision to allow 100% foreign direct ownership in our pharmaceutical industry, and our agreement to change our process patent to a content patent.  The other concern is AIDS in Africa--what should and can we do about it?  

As background, note that we have been under heavy pressure from the WTO to change our policies to align with the world community on patent protection.  We don't want to fight a long, drawn out battle within the WTO, one that we would lose.  We are trying to show that we (and not China) are compliant  members of the world community.    

Since the end of the Cold War, the US has insisted on capitalism triumphant.  We have been forced to open our markets.  Privatization and free flow of capital have been paramount every time we deal with the Americans.   We used to be able to lean on the  Soviet Union to help us stave off American influence.  No longer.

In regard to Africa, we are giving some support to the Global Fund.  We are proud that CIPLA offered AIDS drugs at lower prices.  We don't have the resources to do much more.  On the other hand, we are going to need help for our AIDS problems.  Helping with African countries will be a good experience for us--we will learn what works and does not work.  

Could we start with the Minister of Chemical Industries & Pharmaceuticals?  

	Uma Shankar Bose, Dy. Minister of Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals	Bansi Lal Yadav,  Dy. Minister of Health
Lala Bhaj Bahadur, Dy Minister of Foreign Affairs		Dr. Jayalitha Madhur Indian Drug Manufacturer's Association Exec. Director