Restrictions on generic drugs “infringe the right to health”

A free trade agreement currently being negotiated between the European Union and India threatens India’s production of cheap generic drugs, according to the UN special rapporteur on the Right to Health and other officials and campaigners.

Special rapporteur Anand Grover said in a 10 December press statement: “Millions in the developing world depend on India for generic medicines at affordable costs. Restriction of generic drug production in India will have a devastating public health impact around the world and adversely affect the right to health of millions of patients.”

He said that if the intellectual property provisions remain in the …