To curb unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry, the government announced the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), which forbids companies from hosting workshops overseas for medical professionals or providing them with lodging, expensive cuisine, or financial awards.
#NewsFlash | Government notifies uniform code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 pic.twitter.com/ZwjoX00u1m
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The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) notified a code on Tuesday that states that personal gifts should not be given to medical personnel or their families. Additionally, it outlaws giving free samples to those who aren’t authorized to provide this kind of medication.
It stated that drug information must be accurate, verifiable, balanced, up to date, and not mislead directly or indirectly. It also needs to accurately reflect current knowledge or responsible opinion and be able to be substantiated. It also needs to be available promptly upon request from members of the medical and pharmacy professions and from other professions that work in the pharmaceutical industry.
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“No gift should be offered or provided for the 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.” are the guidelines that forbid pharmaceutical companies from giving gifts to medical professionals.
It further states that no pharmaceutical business or its representatives may give, provide, or guarantee any person competent to prescribe or supply pharmaceuticals with a financial (related to or consisting of money) advantage or benefit.
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The guidelines state medical representatives must not employ any inducement or subterfuge to gain an interview. “They must not pay, under any guise, for access to a healthcare professional.
“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,” it added.
It further states that no pharmaceutical business or its representatives may give, provide, or guarantee any person competent to prescribe or supply pharmaceuticals with a financial (related to or consisting of money) advantage or benefit.
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According to the guidelines, no one authorized to prescribe a prescription may receive free product samples.
“If a medical representative distributes product samples, the sample must be sent directly to the licensed prescriber or to another authorized recipient on their behalf, with the healthcare provider’s name and address recorded for record-keeping,” it said.
