Centre rolls out pharma marketing code to curb unethical practices
It also said that the names or photographs of healthcare professionals must not be used in promotional material.
NEW DELHI: The Centre rolled out an Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) for pharmaceutical companies on Tuesday.
The latest additions will not allow pharma companies to offer gifts to any healthcare professional or their family, arrange travel in and outside the country for them to attend conferences, seminars, and workshops, or even extend hospitality like hotel stay, expensive cuisine, resort accommodation or pay in cash.
It reiterated its earlier code of offering healthcare professionals travel facilities, hospitality, and cash or monetary grants to physicians or their families and added a few more details.
It also detailed the penalties for violating the code and how complaints will be handled.
Listing how complaints against pharma companies should be lodged, the code said that the complainant should deposit a non-refundable amount of Rs 1,000.
It stressed that no pseudonymous or anonymous complaints or those made without the prescribed fee will be entertained.
It also said that if a code violation appears in the media, it will be treated as a complaint.
The Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers also said that the Pharmaceutical Associations should constitute an Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP) and set up a dedicated UCPMP portal on their website.
The code, which has been updated from time to time since it was made operational on January 1, 2015, and aims to prevent unethical practices by pharmaceutical companies, said that the company found to be violating the code should submit its comments and supporting documents in not more than 30 days after receiving notice from the Committee and which will give its decision within 90 days of the receipt of the complaint.
It added that if a code breach is found, than the complainant and the company will be advised in writing, including about taking the remedial steps. If the company files no appeal within the stipulated period, the ECPMP decision will be considered final and binding.
The decision will be uploaded on the website of the Association and the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
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