He stated the Indian authorities was “committed to protecting access to affordable medicines” and that it could not comply with any provisions within the commerce deal that will make it tougher for generic drug producers to function in India.

“We are still in negotiations over the trade deal, and it is possible that the UK may withdraw its demand for patent term extension,” he stated.

More than 120 well being and human rights teams and consultants have written to Ms Badenoch this weekend urging her to withdraw the proposals which they claimed might threaten the provision of generic medicines not solely to low and middle-income nations but additionally globally.

In their letter, the well being consultants cited for instance this 12 months’s determination by the Indian patent workplace to reject an try by Johnson & Johnson to increase the patent on its tuberculosis drug Bedaquiline.

“This case opened the door for other companies to produce affordable generic versions of Bedaquiline, with some health experts estimating the cost of treatment could be cut by up to 80pc,” stated the consultants from 28 nations starting from Italy and Thailand to India, Ghana and Vietnam.

They added: “Depriving people of affordable medicines would increase health inequality, as only the wealthiest in our countries may be able to afford these medicines. Moreover, it would add further financial burden on our already stretched health systems.”

Opponents of the UK proposals have warned they might have a knock-on impact within the UK. Four in 5 of the medicines and medicines used within the NHS are generics, of which a 3rd are from India, that means about one in 4 medicines are un-branded Indian variations.

However, officers at Ms Badenoch’s enterprise and commerce division have strongly denied such claims.

“The NHS, its services and the cost of medicines are not and have never been on the table for any trade deal. We will never agree provisions that would increase the cost of medicines for our NHS,” stated a division spokesman.

“The UK’s approach to IP is to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and ensuring access to affordable medicines – this has not changed.”

As revealed this week by The Telegraph, India is also demanding more visas for nurses, care staff and IT professionals as the value of a free-trade deal. UK ministers have, nonetheless, stated there might be no particular therapy for Indians underneath the Government’s points-based immigration system for expert staff.