For the fiscal year 2025, the executive heads of pharmaceutical companies are required to sign a self-declaration form affirming their company’s compliance with the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP-2024).
This marks the first instance of such a self-declaration being mandated under the new UCPMP-2024, amid ongoing industry discussions regarding its implementation. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has communicated that these self-declarations must be submitted by June 30.
In March, the DoP released the updated UCPMP-2024, which provides guidelines for ethical interactions between pharmaceutical companies and doctors, ensuring these engagements do not become endorsements or inducements for drug prescriptions.
According to industry representatives, companies are actively working to align with this code, which includes stipulations such as capping brand reminders at ₹1,000 and limiting Continuous Medical Education (CME) events to domestic venues.
Anil Matai, Director General of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), which represents primarily foreign drug manufacturers, noted that companies have been preparing since the code’s introduction. The self-declarations will be made available on the OPPI website.
For companies that are not part of any association or are members of multiple associations, their declarations must be submitted to a committee led by the DoP secretary.
As reported by businessline, while there is skepticism among some observers about the effectiveness of the ethical code in curbing malpractices and the distribution of freebies between pharmaceutical companies and doctors, others see this latest directive as a clear effort by the government to ensure adherence to ethical promotion practices.
