"We are open even today to ideas and suggestions to fine-tune amendments to patents rules and law," secretary in the department of industrial policy and promotion A K Jha said at an interactive session on patents, organised by FICCI.
Defending the third amendment to the patent laws through an ordinance, he said the patent laws have been changed keeping in view the national interest.
"Interests of consumers have preceded the interests of companies," Jha said.
Dismissing the charge that the amendments did not make use of the flexibilities provided in the World Trade Organisation regarding patents, he said the joint parlimentary committee, which was formed prior to the second amendment, had taken a note of the leeway available to India and incorporated them in laws.
He said contrary to the general view, the third amendment has a provision for granting compulsory licence to Indian companies to export drugs to a third country in case of a medical emergency.
Jha said with the third amendment, India would be the only country, which would have both a provision of pre-grant and post-grant opposition to a patent.
Jha debunked the criticism that the amendment cannot prevent evergreening of patents.
"Section 3 of the ordinance clearly lays down what can be patented and what cannot," he said, "there could still be some lacunae in the laws. If we are convinced we are willing to address them."
On the demand for protection of data generated by drug companies, he said a committee had looked into the issue and reached a conclusion, which would be known in due course.
He said the government would also be happy to look at the patent law amendment to remove the ambiguity regarding patents for computer software.
"The provision for patents for computer software was made at the instance of software industry. Our objective is to improve the capabilities of the sector," he added.
He said the government would add 40 more patent examiners to the existing 220 across India.