Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices:
All pharmaceutical companies must comply with the Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices issued by the government. Companies must adhere to it on their websites to make it easier for customers to complain against wrong practices.
The government has taken a major step to monitor and tighten the screws on pharmaceutical companies to curb their arbitrariness. The Department of Pharma has created the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP). This is to monitor and prevent collusion between doctors and pharmaceutical companies.
All pharmaceutical companies must comply with the Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices issued by the government. Companies must adhere to it on their websites to make it easier for customers to complain against wrong practices. The government’s move will also stop brand promotion through false advertising.
Restrictions imposed on pharmaceutical companies
No pharmaceutical company can give gifts to doctors in any form.
No foreign travel or other benefits can be offered to doctors.
If a pharmaceutical company wants to advertise, it must provide truthful information. They cannot give false advertisements to lure customers by becoming part of a competition.
Pharmaceutical companies should restrain themselves
The government has directed that pharmaceutical companies need to restrain themselves. Currently, many companies sell their medicines in collaboration with doctors, while many others lure customers through false advertisements. That’s why the government has taken this tough step.
The pharmaceutical companies’ association has been directed to first constitute an ethics committee. The ethics committee should have at least 3 to 5 members. It is also necessary that the head of this committee is the CEO of the company. The association will also have to provide information on its website about the correct procedure for filing complaints related to its products.
Not only this, the association’s website will have a link to the website of the Department of Pharma of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers under the complaint, solution, and code. The association will also have to tell which company they have received a complaint against and how it was resolved. This information will also be mandatory to keep on the website for at least five years.
Where to complain
Complaints about companies that are not found to be affiliated with any organization can be made to the Pharmaceutical Industry Association. These complaints can also be made with the Department of Pharmaceuticals. The complainant may choose to keep their identity confidential for this.
The Ethics Committee will have to take a decision within 90 days of receiving the complaint. If the pharmaceutical company is found guilty, the ethics committee can take action against it. If any party is not satisfied with the decision of the Ethics Committee, they can appeal for a hearing before the Apex Committee headed by the Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Department of the Government.
Here are some key points from the article:
The government has introduced a Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) to curb unethical practices by pharmaceutical companies.
The code prohibits pharmaceutical companies from giving gifts or benefits to doctors, and from making false or misleading claims in their advertising.
Companies must comply with the code on their websites and make it easy for customers to file complaints.
The government has also set up an ethics committee to investigate complaints and take action against companies that violate the code.
This is a positive step by the government to ensure that pharmaceutical companies operate ethically and that consumers are protected from false or misleading advertising.
