A Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices has been finalized by the Indian government after considering the views of various stakeholders, and no gifts, medical samples, or grants can be given to doctors by pharmaceutical companies. To quote from the document, “… no gifts, pecuniary advantages, or benefits in kind may be supplied, offered or promised to persons qualified to prescribe or supply drugs, by a pharma company, or any of it agents including retailers, distributors or wholesalers”.
This is the first time in years that this code has been finalized by the government, as earlier attempts to do so got mired in bureaucratic red tape. The code will be implemented on a voluntary basis from January 1, 2015 and will be reviewed after six months. If the code is not implemented effectively, the government will consider making it mandatory.
