New Pharma Code Prohibits Gifts and Travel Perks for Healthcare Professionals

In a recent move, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has introduced a stringent code, the Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024, aimed at curbing unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry. The code prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering gifts, travel facilities, or any monetary benefits to healthcare professionals or their families.

According to the UCPMP guidelines, Pharmaceutical companies are prohibited from providing gifts or money to healthcare professionals or their family members, including distributors, wholesalers, and retailers associated with these companies.

Furthermore, the code restricts the provision of travel facilities, such as tickets for conferences or paid vacations, to healthcare professionals and their families. Cash payments or grants to healthcare professionals are also prohibited under any pretext.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals emphasized the need for all pharmaceutical associations to establish an Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP) and set up a dedicated UCPMP portal on their websites for implementation of the code.

The code also mandates that drug promotion must align with marketing approval terms and should not commence before the receipt of approval from competent authorities. Information about drugs must be accurate, verifiable, and non-misleading, with prompt substantiation upon request.

Medical representatives are required to uphold ethical standards in their conduct, refraining from inducements or subterfuge to gain access to healthcare professionals. Payment for such access is strictly prohibited.

This move underscores a commitment to ethical practices within the pharmaceutical industry, prioritizing transparency and integrity in interactions between companies and healthcare professionals.