Experts call for amendment to patent law for pharma industry

Bangladesh Patent Law-2022 should be amended in line with the changing scenario for the local pharmaceutical industry after the country’s LDC graduation, experts said on Wednesday.

They also called for close collaboration between the government agencies concerned and the private sector in the amendment process.

They came up with the observations at a seminar titled ‘Preparedness of Pharmaceutical Sector for LDC Graduation’ jointly organized by Support to Sustainable Graduation Project (SSGP) of Economic Relations Division (ERD) and Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD) in Dhaka .

The burgeoning pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh has witnessed exponential growth over the last few decades. The TRIPS waiver for LDCs under the WTO-TRIPS agreement is one of the key drivers of such impressive growth.

The industry has strong potential to accelerate its growth and create a bold footprint in the global market.

Appropriate measures following an action-oriented roadmap are critical to tapping these opportunities and shielding against the erosion of waivers under the TRIPS agreement in the wake of the LDC graduation of Bangladesh in November 2026.

Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, called for engaging lobbyist firm in the WTO for the continuation of TRIPS waiver for Bangladesh after graduation.

He also emphasized the quick operationalization of API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) parks and called for immediate closure of the mailbox system created back in 2008 for submitting patent applications as the mailbox system has lost its relevance in the present context.

President of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) Nazmul Hassan said the issues of affordability and public health should be taken into consideration while granting patent under the patent law of the country.

BUILD Chairperson Nihad Kabir emphasized on enhancing the country’s legal expertise for effective formulation and implementation of the intellectual property rights-related provisions.

DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said the government should establish ‘Biotech Park’ and ‘Genome Valley’ to facilitate biotechnological research. He also called for giving incentives to pharmaceutical sector like RMG sector.

Managing Director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd and also BAPI Senior Vice President Abdul Muktadir called for negotiating with WTO for extending the TRIPS transition period relating to pharmaceutical products for Bangladesh until 01 January 2033 even if the country graduates from the LDC status.

Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Zakia Sultana assured that the government would work in close collaboration with the private sector in amending the current patent law of the country.

ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan urged for a stronger partnership between the public and private sector for preparing the pharmaceutical industry for the post-graduation phase.

ERD Additional Secretary Farid Aziz and Project Director of SSGP, Dhaka University’s Law Department Professor Dr Mohammad Towhidul Islam and BUILD CEO Ferdaus Ara Begum also spoke on the occasion.