Pharma industry considering 'ethics inspectors' to ensure better compliance

Pharma players to meet DoP to discuss suggestions around implementing ethical marketing practices code

As debate over alleged ‘unethical’ marketing practices by India’s drug firms rages on, the industry has sought to bring in transparency into the system by laying down strict rules to be followed by companies. 

The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) is of the opinion that laws should be in place to regulate marketing practices, and non-compliance should be penalised. The proposal to be taken up for discussion with the government soon suggests something along the lines of having ‘ethics inspectors’ to ensure better compliance. 

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) had drafted uniform code for pharmaceutical marketing practices (UCPMP), which is voluntarily followed by