At the opening of a symposium on “Gene Therapy and Precision Medicine,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud stressed the importance of working together to promote gene therapy treatments, especially for rare diseases, by combining law, ethics, and medical innovation. The Narayana Nethralaya Foundation hosted the event, which emphasized the value of using tax breaks and other incentives to encourage industrial participation in research and development. CJI Chandrachud emphasized that these kinds of actions could encourage funding for important research, which would eventually be advantageous to society and patients.
CJI Chandrachud talked about his experiences as a parent of two adopted children with a genetic disease, both personally and professionally. He underlined the need for increased understanding and assistance from the business community and society at large, pointing out that investments in start-ups or corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs might encourage innovation in gene therapy and rare disease therapies. He promoted fair access to cutting-edge medical care, emphasizing that the majority of Indians cannot afford therapies that cost between ₹7 crore and ₹30 crore per. CJI Chandrachud advocated for partnerships and the development of indigenous technologies to generate therapies that are inexpensive in order to address this issue.
The CJI further mentioned the disproportionate effect that genetic illnesses have on underprivileged groups, citing research from the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry indicating that sickle cell disease is more prevalent among Scheduled Tribes. He made the point that social determinants of health, such as caste, class, gender, and geography, frequently have a big impact on these populations’ health results. He underlined the importance of making sure that everyone, particularly underprivileged populations, has access to cutting-edge medical treatments like gene therapy.
The Delhi High Court’s March 2024 decision, which said that no customs taxes or fees should be applied to medications and treatments for uncommon conditions, was also cited by Chief Justice Chandrachud. The court’s request that Customs officials expedite the clearance of certain items without needless delays is a positive step toward expanding access to important therapies. He did, however, reaffirm that creating domestic technology is essential to guaranteeing that medical interventions are customized for the patients in India.
State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who attended the conference as well, stated that the government intended to look at ways to promote gene therapy research. The symposium emphasized how crucial it is to innovate, work together, and have supportive policies in order to make gene therapy accessible and reasonably priced in India.
SOURCE :
THE HINDU
