Latest news with #UCPMP
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Medical representatives banned from visiting doctors in central government hospitals
NEW DELHI: The centre has directed central government hospitals, including Safdarjung and Dr RML Hospitals, to not allow medical representatives inside the hospital premises. This is not the first time the centre has issued such a stern message barring pharma companies' from influencing doctors'. In an order issued on May 28, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr Sunita Sharma, said, 'This is in reference to the earlier instructions regarding not permitting entry of medical representatives in hospital premises. In this regard, it is once again instructed that the medical representatives should not be permitted in the hospital premises. The head of the institutions shall give necessary strict directions in the matter to all officials,' said the order, which was marked to Medical Superintendents of Safdarjung Hospital and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Directors of Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals and Rural Health Training Centre, Najafgarh. 'Medical representatives may be requested to share recent advances regarding any treatment/investigation/procedure by email or other digital media,' the notice clarified. 'It is requested to take necessary action in the matter and an action taken report may be furnished to this Directorate,' the order further added. Reacting to the order, RTI activist and ophthalmologist, Dr K V Babu said, 'Though I support not allowing medical representatives during working hours, blanket ban on entry is not a welcome decision." Dr Babu highlighted the issue of 30 doctors, who travelled to foreign countries, with the funding of a pharma company to the tune of Rs. 1.9 crore. He said he had filed an RTI on the issue. The DoP in its order, dated December 23, told him that they will share the details of the doctors. But, he said, "they are still sitting over it even after five months. No action against the pharma company was also taken despite the UCPMP code being in place.' The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) last year notified a new code that prohibits pharma companies from offering gifts and travel facilities to healthcare professionals or their family members. The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 also bans supply of free samples to those who are not qualified to prescribe such a product. However, the Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare (ADEH) has been demanding that the UCPMP 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.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Medical representatives barred from govt hospitals to stop pharma influence
Medical representatives will no longer be permitted to meet doctors directly within central government hospitals, following a directive from the Centre aimed at putting an end to the nexus between pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals, reported The Economic Times. The move seeks to curtail any influence exerted through gifts or free samples. According to the report, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has instructed all government-run hospitals to bar the entry of medical representatives. Instead, if pharmaceutical companies wish to share information about new treatments or medical advancements, they must do so through email or other digital media. DGHS's directive on disruptions and influence The order, dated May 28, directs heads of government medical institutions to ensure full compliance with the new policy. The directive also aims to put an end to disruptions to hospital operations caused by unregulated interactions between pharma representatives and doctors. Last year, the Department of Pharmaceuticals implemented the Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP), which bars pharmaceutical companies from offering gifts or travel perks to healthcare professionals or their relatives. The code also prohibits the provision of cash or monetary grants to doctors or their family members under any circumstances. The UCPMP also bans the distribution of free drug samples to individuals who are not authorised to prescribe them. Doctors must prescribe only generic drugs: SC In May, the Supreme Court declared that doctors across the country should be mandated to prescribe only generic medicines rather than branded alternatives. Generic drugs are designed to match their branded counterparts in terms of dosage, safety, efficacy, administration method, and therapeutic use. The observation came during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking tighter control over the marketing and promotional strategies employed by pharmaceutical companies. In 2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced new regulations under the 'Professional Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners', requiring doctors to prescribe only generic medicines. The guidelines warned that failure to comply could lead to penalties, including suspension of medical licences. However, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) strongly opposed the government's directive. The body questioned the rationale behind continuing to licence branded medications if the government aims to prioritise generics. Following widespread backlash from the medical community, the NMC was forced to put the implementation of these guidelines on hold.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Medical representatives banned from visiting doctors in govt hospitals
New Delhi: Medical representatives will no longer be allowed to meet doctors directly in central government hospitals , as the Centre has ordered banning their entry in hospital premises, with an eye on putting an end to unethical doctor-pharma nexus . The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has asked government-run hospitals to not allow medical representatives into hospitals; instead, it has said that if they want to share advances regarding any treatment, they can do it over an email or other digital media. In an order dated May 28, the DGHS has instructed the head of institutions to give "strict instructions" in the matter to all officials and ensure strict compliance of the order. "It is requested to take necessary action in the matter and an action taken report may be furnished to this directorate," Sunita Sharma, director general of health service, stated in the order. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How much do dental implants cost in 2025 (check prices) Dental Implants | Search Ads Search Now Undo The move aims to prevent disruptions and prohibits attempts to influence doctors by gifts or samples, people in the know told ET. "Direct interactions between pharmaceutical representatives and doctors can compromise patient care . The government has, therefore, asked hospital heads to stipulate that any information on a new launch should be communicated via an email," said one person. It is also believed that patients are left untreated as a majority of doctors' time is consumed by medical representatives who visit them to promote products. Live Events "The pharma-doctor nexus is very well known. Government hospitals mostly cater to poor patients who come to these hospitals from far-flung areas. We don't want the time that the doctor should give a poor patient is consumed by a medical representative for his company's benefit," according to one government official. Last year, the department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) notified the new Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), aimed at keeping unethical Practices in check. The UCPMP established a framework for communication claims, educational activities, samples and other market initiatives. It laid down what activities are permissible and outlined a complaint procedure involving both industry associations and the DoP. Pharma companies were earlier asked to explain why they need to offer gifts and free medicines as samples to doctors to promote their products, as part of a government's move to review the regulatory framework on marketing practices in the sector.
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
India seeks financial details of pharmaceutical marketing practices, industry caught in a bind
The Centre has asked pharma companies for details of expenditure on marketing in the last one year, putting the industry in a bind. The details sought by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has to be submitted by 31 July, failing which action will be taken against pharmaceutical Union government is keeping a close watch on the marketing practice of pharmaceutical companies amid reports of these companies continuing to offer a range of freebies to doctors, despite the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) being implemented to check unethical marketing practices. Also read: Low vaccine stocks in focus as new covid variants spread A communication, dated 29 May, has been issued by the government to all the pharmaceutical associations to fulfil the compliance as per the targeted deadline. 'The department of pharmaceuticals (DoP) has directed for the submission of the self-declaration and disclosure of marketing expenditure under the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024. The timeline for submissions pertaining to the financial year 2024–25 is now 31st July 2025," said Daara Patel, secretary general at the Indian Drugs Manufacturers Association (IDMA). The self-declaration is a legal undertaking to be filed by company bosses to assure the government that they are not indulging in any unethical marketing practices to promote their products. Also read: India puts big pharma concessions on table as US trade deal nears finish line Patel said that the implementation of the UCPMP guidelines has created a sense of caution and transparency in the marketing practice of the companies which is good for the industry. Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance said, 'It is for the first time that such a massive compliance is being done by the pharma companies. The data has to be uploaded on the dedicated portal of the government to make it a standardized practice for the companies for further point of view." 'Our member companies are ready to update the financial details of the pharmaceutical marketing to the government," the industry executive said. The UCPMP was introduced in March last year with an objective to bring about transparency and ensure ethical conduct in the marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies and restrict them from offering freebies such as gifts, travel, hospitality and monetary benefits to doctors for prescribing a particular medicine. According to government data, India is home to approx. 3,000 drug making companies and 10,500 manufacturing units. The industry is projected to reach a value of $130 billion by 2030. Queries sent to the department of pharmaceutical spokesperson remained unanswered till press time. Also read: Govt alert: common antibiotic treatment may be 'life threatening' This entire exercise is being done in the backdrop of the Micro Labs controversy: the makers of Dolo650 mg allegedly offered freebies to doctors during the pandemic to prescribe the anti-fever medicine. Last year in December, DoP, accused Abbvie Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd of breaching the guidelines of the UCPMP by allegedly sponsoring vacations for 30 medical professionals to Monaco and Paris. The company could not be contacted for comment.
