Piyush Goyal Criticises Push for 'Evergreening' Patents, Slams Profit-Driven Pharmas

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday criticised the attempts to extend pharmaceutical patents through minor incremental innovations. Speaking at the World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting Asia 2025, Goyal said that India “very often” gets requests to grant fresh patents for a longer period of time to pharmaceutical companies for the incremental changes to their patents.

“I receive this request very often that we should also allow pharmaceutical companies the ability to have incremental changes to their patents and allow them to have a fresh patent for another long period of time. We normally understand that as evergreening of patents,” PTI quoted Goyal.

"It is so sad that just for the supernatural profits of a select few companies and possibly their shareholders, the world has to suffer," he added.

The minister said that this could deprive millions of access to affordable medicines. He further urged the WHS delegates to experience first hand India’s efforts to deliver quality healthcare even in remote regions.

Goyal highlighted that more than 620mn people are now eligible for free healthcare under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the world’s largest government-sponsored health insurance program. He emphasised that India’s commitment was never driven by profit but by compassion.

"Physical health, mental wellness, clean environments, quality education, digital connectivity, and economic empowerment together form the basis of a truly healthy society," he noted.

Response to Global Push?

Goyal's comment holds immense significance as it came amid the US, the UK and the EU are seeking amendments in India’s Patents Act to allow the ‘evergreening’ of patents, especially in pharma. Earlier this month, the US highlighted restrictions on patent-eligible subject matter in Section 3(d) of the act. This section prohibits the grant of ‘evergreening’ patents. These additional patents are for drugs with no therapeutic benefit and seen to increase the term of a patent monopoly.

“Pharmaceutical stakeholders continue to raise concerns as to whether India has an effective system for protecting against unfair commercial use and unauthorised disclosure of undisclosed test or other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical products,” USTR said in a report.