Government notifies uniform code on pharmaceutical sales practices

The government has notified a uniform code of conduct that stipulates the do’s and don’ts regarding the promotion of medicines sold by Indian pharmaceutical companies.

The Department of Pharmaceutical Products under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers and the central government notified the Uniform Provisions for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 on March 12.

This law prohibits pharmaceutical companies or their agents (distributors, wholesalers, retailers) from offering personal favors that would incentivize health care professionals to prescribe certain drugs. .

1. Gifts should not be given or provided for immediate or long-term personal benefit to a healthcare worker or family member.

2. No financial or in-kind benefit may be offered, offered or promised to any person entitled to prescribe or supply medicines.

3. Domestic and international travel facilities, including train, air, ship, cruise tickets, paid vacation, etc., to attend conferences, seminars, workshops, etc. must not be provided to healthcare workers and their families.

4. Entertainment such as hotel stays, expensive meals, and resort accommodations should not be provided to healthcare workers or their families (both immediate and long-term).

5. Cash or monetary subsidies must not be given to health professionals or their families (direct or extended) under any pretext.

For points 3 and 4, the only exception is if the person is a speaker on a CME (continuing medical education) or CPD (continuing professional development) program.

Never pay for access to a medical professional under any pretext, even if you are a medical professional.

The Code also defines specific rules for providing brand reminders.

• Informational and educational items distributed must not exceed Rs 1,000 each and must not include independent commercials for medical professionals. These items include books, calendars, diaries, journals (including electronic journals), dummy device models, and clinical treatment guidelines.

• “Free samples of pharmaceutical products will not be provided to persons who are not qualified to prescribe such products.” Samples must be marked “Free Medical Samples Not for Sale” and must be larger than the smallest pack on the market. must not be Additionally, sample packs should be limited to prescription doses for no more than three patients, and companies should not provide healthcare professionals with more than 12 such sample packs per drug per year.

Additionally, the regulations require companies to maintain details such as product name, doctor’s name, amount of samples provided, and date of providing free samples to healthcare workers.

Additionally, the amount of free samples so distributed may not exceed 2% of the company’s annual domestic sales.

In addition to this, the code also addresses how claims about the usefulness of a product should be made, how comparisons should be made with other products, and what audiovisual promotion should entail. is also defined.

It also establishes procedures for establishing an Ethics Committee on Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP) in each association, filing complaints, processing complaints, penalties, and appeals.