Govt notifies new marketing code for pharma cos to curb unethical practices

The Department of Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday notified a new code which prohibits pharma companies from offering gifts and travel facilities to healthcare professionals or their family members.
The Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 also bans supply of free samples to those who are not qualified to prescribe such a product.
“No gift should be offered or provided for personal benefit of any healthcare professional or family member (both immediate and extended) by any pharmaceutical company or its agent i.e. distributors, wholesalers, retailers, etc,” as per the UCPMP guidelines.
Similarly, no pecuniary advantage or benefit in kind may be offered, supplied, or promised to any person qualified to prescribe or supply drugs, by any pharmaceutical company or its agent i.e. distributors, wholesalers, retailers, etc, it added.
Besides, the companies or their representatives, or any person acting on their behalf, should not extend travel facilities inside or ..