New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) The Government has notified the Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) to prevent unethical marketing practices by the pharmaceutical companies, Minister of state for Chemicals & Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said on Friday.
Replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, Patel said, “The UCPMP code was notified by the Department of Pharmaceuticals on 12th March this year. This code aims to ensure that promotion of pharmaceutical products is done in a responsible manner.”
“The UCPMP 2024 is a set of guidelines to prevent unethical marketing practices by the pharmaceutical companies.
The Code provides for the manner in which drugs are to be promoted before the healthcare professionals,” she said.
“Pharmaceutical companies should be responsible and liable for conduct of their Medical Representatives or other such employees,” MoS Patel said.
Informing that the Code prohibits supply of gifts, monetary benefits, and hospitality to healthcare professionals or to their family members by the pharmaceutical companies, Patel said, “There is a two layered complaint adjudication mechanism under the Code, where the appeal lies with the Department of Pharmaceuticals.”
As far as Department of Pharmaceuticals is concerned, no objection has been received from the Doctors and Public Health Organizations.
“The new code is a significant improvement of its earlier version i.e. UCPMP 2015. It provides for obligations in the form of self-declaration for adherence to the Code, disclosure of expenditure on conference, seminar or workshop organized for Continuing Medical Education,” the Minister said.
The Appellate Committee under the UCPMP Code, 2024 is responsible for appeal matters under the Code, which was earlier within the Pharma Industry Association, and now it is with the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Patel added.
