SC asks Centre to act against pharma offering freebies to doctors

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to constitute a committee to examine complaints against pharmaceutical companies allegedly engaging in unethical promotional practices, including offering freebies to doctors, and to recommend measures to curb such practices, according to a report by The Indian Express.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked the Union government to consider the suggestions and representations submitted in the matter and act on the committee’s recommendations. The case has been posted for hearing on January 29, when the court will examine the Centre’s compliance affidavit.

The proceedings stem from a public interest litigation filed by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Associations of India and others, seeking stricter regulation of pharmaceutical companies’ marketing and promotional activities targeting healthcare professionals.

The petition raised concerns about the substantial amounts of money drug companies spend on sales promotion to influence doctors’ prescribing decisions. It argued that such practices could contribute to excessive prescription of medicines and pose serious concerns for citizens’ right to life and health.

The Centre told the court that the Department of Pharmaceuticals had already introduced the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP). The code bars pharmaceutical companies, medical representatives and their agents from providing doctors or their family members with gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or monetary grants.

The developments come as the government also moves to strengthen monitoring of prescription medicines. The Union Health Ministry has proposed mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores, with recordings to be retained for three months.

The proposed system would cover outlets dispensing Schedule H, H1 and X drugs, including powerful antibiotics and psychotropic medicines, amid concerns over their misuse.