GEORGE TOWN: The Health Mi­­nistry rejects the proposal by the United States to extend the expiry date of patents of medicines in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) for the medical sector.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the duration of the patents should be reduced to enable a particular nation to produce generic medicines.

Previously, he said, the duration was 20 years, but the United States had suggested recently that the duration be extended to protect intellectual property rights.

“The Health Ministry has announ­ced that we do not agree on the extension of the duration of patency of the medicines as it will burden the people,” he said after launching the “Pesta Tanglung Universiti Sains Malaysia”.

He said the production of generic medicines would not be allowed du­­ring the patent period if the US proposal was accepted. — Bernama