freebies for docs from pharma firms

1. From Jan 1, no freebies for
docs from pharma firms

2. Contd..
Doling out freebies, cruise tickets, paid
vacations and sponsorships to
educational conferences and seminars
for doctors and their families by
pharmaceutical companies has been
banned from next month.The
government has woken up belatedly to
curb unethical marketing practices of
pharma companies by spelling out a
uniform code of conduct for the
industry. The code will be voluntary to
start with and kicks in from January 1.

3. Contd..
It will be reviewed after six months; if not imple
mented “effectively”, the government will
“consider”' making it mandatory, sources told
TOI.
At present, the pharma industry follows a “self-
regulatory’’ code that curbs un ethical sales
promotion and marketing expenses, bans
personal gifts and all-expenses paid junkets for
doctors and their families, but there have been
several instances where companies have violated
the code, industry experts say.
They say the code exists only on paper as
companies try to influence prescriptions through
several ways.

4. Contd..
This is the first time in years that the code has been finalized by the
government, as earlier attempts to do so got mired in bureaucratic red tape.
A similar effort failed in 2008-09. Concerned with the increase in unethical
marketing practices and prescription drug promotions by pharma
companies, the government had first decided to ban these through a
uniform code in 2008-2009, but the pharma associations did not agree to
it.When contacted, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association secretary general
Daara Patel said, “The code seems to be strict. We are in consultations with
the government. If we cannot educate about a particular medicine or
disseminate information, how will doctors know about it?“ Industry body
IDMA, representing certain domestic companies and OPPI, which represents
MNCs, have their own “self-regulatory'' codes in place, drawn up a couple of
years back, and revised again in 2013.

5. Contd..
Industry experts say that the government's Uniform
Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices has been
modelled on the Medical Council of India (MCI)
guidelines for doctors and healthcare professionals,
which were further tightened in 2012. The code -a
copy of which is available with the TOI--talks about
banning gifts, hospitality , medical samples, medical
grants, and clarifies the relationship with healthcare
professionals. Regarding gifts, it says “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“.

6. Contd..
It says “in any seminar, conference or meeting
organized by a pharma company for promoting a
drug or disseminating information, if a medical
practitioner participates as a delegate, it will be
on hisher own cost.“
It further says that gifts for the personal benefit of
healthcare professionals and family members
(both immediate and extended) such as tickets to
entertainment events are also not to be offered or
provided by pharma companies, nor cash or
monetary grants for individual purposes.
Hospitality should also not be extended to any
doctor or their family members.

7. Contd..
Referring to the earlier communication to industry
associations sent out over two years back in March
2012, the department of pharmaceuticals says in
the letter that the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical
Marketing Practices has been finalized after inputs
by various stakeholders, and would be again
reviewed six months after its implementation from
January 1, 2015.
The industry associations have to upload the
Uniform Code on their websites and will be
responsible for informing its members, and the
government in case of violations.
The code also adds that “where there is any item
missing, the code of MCI as per the Indian Medical
Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics)
Regulation, 2002 as amended from time to time,
will prevail''.