The minister, however, praised the the Indian pharma industry for 'its skills to design, develop, test, manufacture generics at a fraction of global prices and even export to other poor countries'. He said that Indian pharma industry helped bringing down the prices of anti-AIDS drug from $10,400 to $300.

'This price efficiency has made the Indian drugs the key component of the global fight against HIV-AIDS,' he said but expressed apprehension that this may change due to the new patent regime.

Many multinational companies are patenting small pharma innovations and shifting the focus from generic drugs. This will make drugs more costly and inaccessible to many, especially in rural areas.