Pharma Marketing Code

The three-member committee will assess the effectiveness of the UCPMP, examine enforcement mechanisms and recommend measures to curb unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices

This comes as the central government on Friday notified the UCMPMD 2024 in a move to regulate unethical marketing practices in the medical devices industry

The UCPMP is voluntary and there is no legal penalty for violating the code

Says Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance's investigation report cleared Dolo-650 maker, Micro Labs, of allegations of bribing doctors with freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore

The government further added that it is working on providing statutory backing to the UCPMP code and "it is a time-consuming process, which cannot be completed in haste"

It will recommend 'legally enforceable mechanisms', is expected to give a report in 90 days

The law ministry has rejected draft rules prepared by the Department of Pharmaceuticals

Free drug samples and trips to doctors push up medicine cost by 20%