Question : Implementation of UCPMP

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that the Government has asked pharmaceutical companies to abide by the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP);
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is considering to make compliance of the UCPMP mandatory and if so, the steps taken/being taken in this regard;
(d) the mechanism adopted by the Government for strict vigil on unethical practices being followed by pharma companies by offering/giving inducements to medical practitioners; and
(e) the number of cases registered in connection with fake brands during the last three years, State-wise?

(a), (b) & (d): Yes, Sir. Department has recently taken two meetings in order to review the implementation of the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) with the pharmaceutical and medical device associations held on 23.12.2019 and 14.02.2020. In these meetings associations have been asked to upload UCPMP on their websites without any delay and comply with its provisions including formation of Ethics Committee for Pharma Marketing Practices (ECPMP) and Apex Ethics Committee for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (AECPMP) and to also upload contact details and procedure to file complaints on their website. Associations have also been asked to submit quarterly report to National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).
(c): No, Sir.
(e):As per the information received from various State/U.T. Drugs Controllers the No. of drugs samples tested, No. of drugs samples declared sub-standard quality, spurious/ adulterated drugs, its percentage and action taken during last five years is enclosed as Annexure A. Such information received from various Zonal/Sub-zonal offices of CDSCO is enclosed as Annexure B.