GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

LOK SABHA STARRED

QUESTION NO: 212

ANSWERED ON:11.03.2010

UNFAIR PRACTICE OF PROMOTING DUGS

(a)whether attention of the Government has been drawn to alleged collusion among doctors, medicine outlets and drug manufacturers for promoting drugs;

(b)if so, the details thereof;

(c)whether the Government has taken up the issue with the drug manufacturers to check this unfair practice for promoting their drugs;

(d)if so, the outcome thereof; and

(e)the further steps taken by the Government in this regard? Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERSbe pleased to state:-

ANSWER

 THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS fa) to (e) OF THE lOIKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NQ,212 FOR ANSWER ON 11.3.2010 REGARDING UNFAIR PRACTICE OF PROMOTING DRUG

(a) to (e): Reports had appeared in leading newspapers in the recent past regarding unethical practices through promotional expenses by the Pharma companies. Keeping in view the allegations made in the media reports, this Department took up the matter in the interest of consumers and patients since such promotional expenses had direct implications on prices of drugs and its affordability, thereby adversely affecting access to medicines, especially for the poor and disadvantaged. Many of the Pharmaceutical Associations have worked out a `Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices` (UCMP). This, however, seems to have generated some controversy between the Associations themselves, as is apparent from the Press statement issued by SPIC, inter-alia, stating that they are not signatories to the UCMP. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has written to the concerned Associations for clarification.