The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has constituted a committee to review the existing regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical marketing practices and recommend measures to curb unethical practices in the sector.
The committee will examine ways to strengthen oversight, monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to improve transparency, accountability and compliance in pharmaceutical marketing.
Dr. M. Srinivas, Member of NITI Aayog, will chair the committee. Its members include Smt. Preeti Sudan, former Union Health Secretary, and Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta.
The committee has been asked to submit its recommendations within two months from the date of its first meeting, following the necessary consultation process.
Review of Pharmaceutical Marketing Code
The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) was introduced in 2015 as a voluntary, industry-led self-regulatory mechanism to promote ethical marketing and regulate interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals.
The Department subsequently introduced UCPMP 2024, which replaced the 2015 version and strengthened the implementation framework. The 2024 Code is currently in operation.
Key Areas of Examination
The committee will conduct a comprehensive review of issues related to unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices. Its responsibilities will include assessing the effectiveness of existing monitoring, oversight and enforcement mechanisms and identifying measures to improve transparency, accountability and compliance.
It will also examine whether the existing regulatory framework needs to be strengthened through appropriate regulatory, statutory or other legal measures.
As part of its work, the committee will consult relevant stakeholders, technical and professional experts, institutions and other concerned bodies. It will consider their submissions before making recommendations.
The committee may also deliberate on other relevant issues connected with preventing unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices.