New pharma code to help improve marketing practices

The implementation of the uniform code of pharmaceutical marketing practices (UCPMP) is expected to encourage good marketing practices by pharma companies, an E&Y survey has said.

Pharma companies in India should focus on building a robust internal control system for ensuring compliance with the code formulated by Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to regulate marketing practices, it said.

The Ernst & Young study titled 'Pharmaceutical marketing: ethical and responsible conduct' is based on a survey conducted among a mix of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and pharma marketing professionals to understand the effectiveness of the newly-introduced regulatory guidelines around pharmaceutical marketing.

The survey provides an insight on how current regulations are affecting the HCPs and the pharmaceutical industry. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), recently formed by the Government, has introduced a voluntary draft of uniform code of pharmaceutical marketing practices (UCPMP) to check any irregularities in the industry.