Context
For medical professionals, scientists, and technicians in medical, dental, and paramedical institutes, the Union health ministry has launched the ICMR/ DHR Policy.
About the Policy
- This Policy will ensure multi-disciplinary collaboration, promote start-up culture, and develop an innovation led ecosystem at Medical Institutes across the country by promoting Make-in-India, Start-Up-India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
- This policy is in line with Prime Minister Harper’s motto of “Innovate, Patent, Produce, and Prosper.”
- According to the policy, innovators can work as a non-executive director, scientific advisor, or consultant in a corporation.
- They can work alone or through companies on inter-institutional and industrial projects/consultancy projects.
- They can licence technologies to businesses, which will result in commercialization, money generation, and societal gain.
- They could be a licensor.
- Sabbaticals for translational company work are allowed under the policy.
- Sponsored research/consultancy arrangements can be outsourced by innovators.
- It also proposed a process for policy review.
- The ICMR-DHR will establish a standing subcommittee to examine the policy on a regular basis in order to resolve the problems that have arisen during implementation.
- It will be a consultative, evidence-based revision strategy.
Medical Vs Engineer
- In comparison to engineering universities, most medical colleges lack an IP and entrepreneurial policy.
- Only 15% of medical schools have an IP policy in place, compared to 85% of engineering schools.
- From 2010 to 2020, medical institutes produced only 5% of patent filings.
- Engineering institutes filed the majority of the data.
Implementation
- Medical institutes will be able to implement IP management policies after the policy is implemented.
- It will make it possible for medical experts to start their own businesses.
- In addition, through the PPP model, it will stimulate inter-institutional and industrial collaborations.
- Medical schools have been requested to establish an office of licensing of innovation ventures and enterprises (OLIVEs) to encourage medical practitioners to learn about, participate in, and start their own businesses.
- OLIVEs will assist inventors with IP management, startup firm formation/incubation, business development, and techno-legal assistance.
- OLIVEs will also supply chartered accountants, company secretaries, and patent attorneys to innovator-led enterprises in exchange for 2-10% equity in incubated companies.
