An advisory panel to the economy, trade and industry minister examining a patent system for medical practices compiled a draft policy Wednesday that would allow some advanced medical technologies to be patented.

The committee on intellectual property policy, under the Industrial Structure Council, proposes allowing patents for such regenerative medical techniques as cell culturing and gene processing for implantation during medical treatment, members of the panel said.

Medical technology is not included in the current patent system. The situation stems from a "humanitarian viewpoint" from which medical technology is not considered an "invention for industrial application," part of the designated criteria, according to the Patent Agency.

The latest decision is designed to promote venture companies operating in the field of regenerative medical technology, give the economy a boost and benefit patients, the committee members said.

The draft policy will be discussed at a subcommittee considering the patent system before the Patent Agency draws up revised screening standards for patents.

Currently, techniques for culturing cells taken from one person to implant in another as part of medical treatment are eligible for patents because they are considered the same as producing new pharmaceutical products.

But techniques to culture cells or process genes taken from a patient and then put back into the same patient are not included in the system, as the culturing is done by doctors and the act is considered medical treatment.

The revised patent system will include the culturing of cells and processing of genes for use in the same patient as venture companies often do the culturing and processing on behalf of doctors.

The committee members said, however, that the new policy will not allow doctors to apply for patents for their techniques in the medical treatment, such as operation techniques.