The Government seems to be in no hurry to make mandatory the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) that aims to regulate unethical promotional practices in the pharmaceutical industry. The code came in 2011 following complaints that pharma companies often promoted their products by offering bribe to doctors and pharmacists in the form of foreign junkets, gifts, cash and other incentives. The code is in accordance with the MCI code of ethics, too.
However, even after nearly three years of its announcement, it remains voluntary in nature. The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Chemicals' Department of Pharmaceuticals had announced the code on December 12, 2014.
It was to be implemented from January 2015 for six months. But even after 2 years and 10 months, there has been no movement in the matter.
Unhappy at the delay, the Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Practices (ADEH) has rued that this delay flies in the face of the Government's proclaimed fight against corruption. It further said that the Government is well aware that the pharmaceutical industry indulges in huge corruption by enticing the medical professionals with expensive gifts including foreign travel.
The ADEH's core committee members Dr Arun Mitra and Dr GS Grewal said "It seems that the Government is sleeping over it intentionally and seems to be hand in glove with some corrupt pharma giants."
The alliance also noted that though income tax department had recently raided the pharma giant USV to see if there is any such involvement of giving freebies to the doctors, in the absence of mandatory code, the exercise may fall flat.
Mandatory implementation of UCPMP will increase accountability and ensure high ethical standards for the pharmaceutical industry, the members said.