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Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP):
Context:
The Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Health Care has expressed disappointment over the recent reply of Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Sadanada Gowda, in Parliament that there is no decision yet to make the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) mandatory.
What’s the demand now?
The alliance has said that UCPMP should be made mandatory to bring fairness in marketing of the drugs as the industry has failed to comply with the code on a voluntary basis.
What is UCPMP Code?
It is a voluntary code issued by the Department Of Pharmaceuticals relating to marketing practices for Indian Pharmaceutical Companies and as well medical devices industry. Applicability: At present, the UCPMP Code is applicable on Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Representatives, Agents of Pharmaceutical Companies such as Distributors, Wholesalers, Retailers, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Associations.
Key features and provisions:
- No gifts, pecuniary advantages or benefits in kind may be supplied, offered or promised, to persons qualified to prescribe or supply drugs, by a pharmaceutical company or any of its agents.
- As regards travel facilities, the UCPMP Code prohibits extending travel facility inside the country or outside, including rail, air, ship, cruise tickets, paid vacations, etc., to HealthCare Professionals and their family members for vacation or for attending conference.
- The Code also provides that free samples of drugs shall not be supplied to any person who is not qualified to prescribe such product.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- About UCPMP.
- Is it mandatory?
- Issued by?
- Overview.
Mains Link:
Discuss why the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) should be made mandatory?
Sources: the Hindu.
