Challenges of Examination Processes of Pharmaceutical Patent Application in Thailand

Abstract

Introduction   : The quality of pharmaceutical patent system was caused by various factors. The process of pharmaceutical patent examination required advance technology and complex methods that may affect the quality of patent system. Objective: To assess the process of pharmaceutical patent examination in Thailand. Methods: Documentary review and semi-structure interview were performed in purposive selected 19 key informants. Results: 3 sessions of patent examination process; screening, documentary search and invention examination. The steps that most of interviewers have commented for future improvement were screening and substantive examination. Some interviewers suggested that screening and substantive examination should be cleared in the definition, and the publication of searched report should be updated to public and the documentary system should be improved. Conclusion: Challenges of the examination steps of pharmaceutical patent application in Thailand for quality of pharmaceutical patent were: screening, request for examination, substantive examination, and publication of searched reports.