Industry bodies ask DoP to delete several clauses in Uniform Code of Marketing Practices

The pharma associations have asked the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) to delete several clauses in the Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) as they are unreasonable and difficult to implement. The department in the last week of May this year had issued the Marketing Code to arrest the unethical marketing practice of bribing of doctors by the pharma companies for prescribing their drugs.

After issuing the UCPMP, the DoP had asked the pharma associations and other stake-holders to send their feedback on the issue to incorporate relevant suggestions. In their suggestions, the associations have asked the DoP to delete several clauses in the Code.

The associations have asked the DoP to delete the clause on hospitality, sponsorship and meetings, which reads: Companies must not organise meetings to coincide with sporting, entertainment or other leisure events or activities. Venues that are renowned for their entertainment or leisure facilitates or are extravagant must not be used.

Arguing to delete this clause, the associations plead that it is difficult to keep tab on events other than medical which may be coinciding with the company's scheduling of the meetings. Most venues today indulge in leisure activities since this is the prime focus of the hospitality industry, hence specifically excluding such destinations would be unreasonable.

The associations also objected and asked the DoP to delete the clause -'Not include sponsoring securing, organising directly or indirectly any entertainment, sporting or leisure events'- on the plea that there is no justification in ensuring doctors do not enjoy privileges of normal working humans. Clubbing yoga, and de-stress sessions with medical meetings makes the learning more enjoyable and the doctor more receptive to modern trends and information imparted during the sessions.

Likewise, another important clause which the associations wanted to delete is on samples. As per the Code 'Sample packs shall be limited to prescribed dosages for three patients. Asking to delete the clause, the associations argue that sample packs are always distributed according to the needs of the product and doctor. Such cap on sampling is restrictive and may hinder the interested doctor getting adequate experience with the concerned product's safety and efficacy.

The UCPMP will initially be a voluntary code, and its implementation will be reviewed by the government after a period of six months from the date of its coming into force and if it is found that it has not been implemented effectively by the pharma associations and companies, the government would consider making it a statutory code.

Mumbai wholesalers may suspend purchase of drugs from AstraZeneca

The wholesalers from Mumbai may suspend the purchase of drugs manufactured by AstraZeneca soon, as they suspect the company is involved in selling physician samples of certain drugs directly to the patients. It was recently discovered that the company has been selling physician's samples of Onglyza 5 mg directly to the consumers in Andheri. Selling of medicines by companies directly to the consumer is illegal and punishable under Indian drug rules.

A source from the Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association (PWA) informed that the company
representatives have been caught red handed selling physicians' samples of Onglyza 5 mg to the patients in Andheri. Onglyza is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar (glycemic) control in adults for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Physicians samples are not supposed to be sold to patients without prescription. The Association is contemplating to file a complaint with the competent authority against the company and others involved in this case.

It is suspected that apart from the company, even a chemist and some doctors from this area are involved in such unethical practice. In this case, its the patients who are suffering the most. They are being fooled by the chemists who are giving them PS without a proper bill, the source said.

The only way in which a medicine can be bought is through a valid prescription from a doctor without which it is deemed to be illegally obtained. It is understood that under the rule once a drug gets an approval the company is supposed to send the medicines to the clearing and forwarding (CNF) agents then it comes to the stockist and from there they are supplied to the chemist and finally to patients.

The main aim behind providing sample to physicians is to obtain a qualitative analysis of the performance of drug from the doctor after the completion of survey as its an important part of the clinical trial stage IV. Whereas the other important objective is to create awareness about the brand name among the doctors.