The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has constituted a committee to review the existing regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical marketing practices and recommend measures to strengthen monitoring, oversight and enforcement across the sector. The committee will examine issues relating to unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices and recommend measures to improve transparency, accountability and compliance. It is required to submit its recommendations within two months from the date of its first meeting.
Dr. M. Srinivas, Member of NITI Aayog, has been appointed chairperson of the committee. Its members include Smt. Preeti Sudan, former Union Health Secretary, and Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta. The committee will undertake a comprehensive review of existing pharmaceutical marketing practices and consult relevant stakeholders, technical and professional experts, institutions and other concerned bodies before finalising its recommendations.
The review will focus on the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), which was introduced in 2015 as a voluntary, industry-led self-regulatory mechanism intended to promote ethical marketing and govern interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals.
In 2024, the Department of Pharmaceuticals introduced an updated version of the code, superseding the 2015 framework and strengthening its implementation provisions. The UCPMP 2024 is currently in operation.
The newly constituted committee will assess the effectiveness of the existing framework and identify areas where further regulatory or statutory intervention may be required.
The committee's terms of reference include:
- Reviewing unethical marketing practices: Examining issues associated with pharmaceutical promotion and interactions between companies and healthcare professionals.
- Assessing monitoring and enforcement: Evaluating the effectiveness of existing oversight mechanisms and identifying measures to improve transparency, accountability and compliance.
- Strengthening the regulatory framework: Recommending appropriate regulatory, statutory or other legal measures, wherever necessary.
- Stakeholder consultation: Seeking inputs from relevant stakeholders, technical experts, professional bodies and institutions.
- Additional recommendations: Considering other relevant measures to curb unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices.
The proposed review is aimed at examining whether the existing mechanisms adequately address unethical marketing practices and whether stronger monitoring and enforcement measures are required.
The committee's recommendations could inform future decisions on the implementation and oversight of pharmaceutical marketing regulations. However, any specific regulatory changes will depend on the recommendations submitted and subsequent government action.
The constitution of the committee marks a review of India's existing pharmaceutical marketing oversight framework, including the implementation of UCPMP 2024. Its recommendations, due within two months of its first meeting, are expected to address monitoring, compliance, accountability and the possible need for additional regulatory measures.
