The document discusses the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) in India. The UCPMP provides voluntary guidelines for ethical pharmaceutical marketing and promotion. It outlines restrictions on promotional claims, product comparisons, and interactions with healthcare professionals. The guidelines prohibit gifts, travel funds, cash payments, and other inducements that could improperly influence medical decisions. Adopting the ethical standards in the UCPMP is important for pharmaceutical companies to shift away from outdated marketing beliefs and practices.

1. Uniform Code For
Pharmaceutical
marketing practices
By - Bhavana Upadhyay
MBA Pharmaceutical Management
IIHMR UNIVERSITY
JAIPUR

2.  Activities focused on making physicians as
well as the general public aware of new and
existing pharmaceutical brands .
Pharmaceutical marketing can include give
away samples, detailed product literature,
disease management programs, and support
material for patients, internet initiatives, and
events/meetings for physicians” .
 Pharmaceutical marketing can also be defined
as a management process that serves to
identify and meet patients’ needs in a profitable
way .

3. What is
UCPMP
 UCPMP stands for Uniform code of
pharmaceutical marketing practices
 The Central Government had published a
set of guidelines in December 2014 called
“Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical
Marketing Practices” (“UCPMP”) as
guidance to the industry for promotion
and marketing of drugs and medical
devices.
 Effective in 2015.
 However, these guidelines are voluntary
and do not have the force of law, at
present.

4. Claims of Drugs
Comparison of drugs
Textual and audio-visual promotional ,marketing
Medical representatives
Samples
Gifts
Relationship with healthcare professionals

5.  Evidence based claims
 “New drug” claim
 Caution in using the
word ” safe drug ”
Claims for usefulness of a drug must be
based on an up-to-date evaluation of all
the evidence.
The word “new” must not be used for
any drug which has been generally
available, or therapeutic indication which
has been generally promoted, in India
for more than 12 months.
The word “safe” must not be used
without any qualification and it must not
be state categorically that a medicine
has no side effects, toxic hazards or risk
of addiction

6. Factual and fair comparison
Use of brand name of other
companies
Other companies should not be
disparaged(downgrade)
Comparison of drugs must be factual,
fair and capable of substantiation. In
presenting a comparison, care must be
taken to ensure that it does not mislead
by distortion, by undue emphasis,
omission or any other way
Brand name of other companies must
not be used on comparison unless the
prior consent of the companies
concerned has been taken.
Other companies, their products,
services or promotions must not be
disparaged either directly or by
implication.

7. tio
nal marketing
:
 The relevant drug
 The name and address of the holder of the authorization of the
drug.
 The name of the drug and a list of the active ingredients using
the generic name
 Recommended dosage
 Method of use
 Method of administration
 Adverse reactions
 Warnings and precautions for use
 Contraindications of the product
 •The names or photographs of healthcare professionals must
not be used in promotional material.
 •Promotional material must not imitate the devices, copy
slogans or general layout adopted by other companies in a way
that is likely to mislead or confuse.

8.  Access to health care professionals
Medical reps must not employ any inducement or subterfuge to gain an interview.
They must not pay, under any guise for access to healthcare professionals.
•Company is responsible!
Companies are responsible for the actions of all their employees including medical
reps for ensuring compliance of code.
•Third parties
Working for or on behalf of pharmaceutical companies should also follow this code.

9. •Free samples only to qualified persons
•The sample must be handed directly to a person qualified to prescribe such product or to a
person authorized to receive the sample on their behalf.
•Any supply of such samples must be in response to a signed and dated request from the
recipient
•Each sample pack shall not be larger than the smallest pack present in the market.
•Each sample shall be marked “free medical sample - not for sale”
•Each sample shall be accompanied by a copy of the most up-to-date version of the Product
Information
•A pharmaceutical company shall not supply a sample of a drug which is an anti-depressant,
hypnotic, sedative or tranquillizer
•The companies will maintain details, such as product name, doctor name, quantity of samples
given, Date of supply of free samples distributed to Healthcare practitioners etc.

10.  Pharmaceutical company, distributors, wholesalers,
retailers
No gifts, pecuniary advantages or benefits in kind may be
supplied, offered or promised
 Health Care Professionals and their family members
Gifts for the personal benefit of healthcare professionals and
family members such as tickets to entertainment events also are
not be offered or provided.

11.  Travel facilities
Companies shall not extend any travel facility inside the country or
outside, including rail, air, ship, cruise tickets, paid vacations, etc., to
Health Care Professionals and their family members for vacation or
for attending conference, seminars, workshops, CME programme
etc. as a delegate.
 Hospitality
Companies shall not extend any hospitality like hotel
accommodation to Healthcare Practitioners and their family
members
 Cash or monetary grants
Companies shall not pay any cash or monetary grants to any
healthcare professional for individual purpose.

12. Every pharmaceutical company continuing to
outdated beliefs of marketing and practising
which is challenging to change but its affecting
output in unethical way. There is need to change
pharma company marketers for ethical
perspective to rethink and manage ethical code
of conduct.