controlled units and those with foreign tie-ups, this has been backed up by the patent rights of their principals which made it possible for them to virtually lay down the range of products to be manufactured, the capa- cities to be set up and so on. Amin recognises the role of patents in keeping drug prices high; "the legislation on patents which has been hanging fire fur years should be passed at the earliest", he rightly demands. But if the Patents Bill has been "hanging fire'', this has been because