With reference to the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practic...
• Both statement 1 and statement 2 are not correct: The Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices, 2014 ("UCPMP Code") is a voluntary code issued by the Department Of Pharmaceuticals relating to marketing practices for Indian Pharmaceutical Companies as well as medical devices industry. At present, the UCPMP Code is applicable to Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Representatives, Agents of Pharmaceutical Companies such as Distributors, Wholesalers, Retailers, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Associations. It is voluntary and not binding in nature.
(i) The UCPMP Code provides that no gifts, pecuniary advantages or benefits in kind may be supplied, offered or promised, to persons qualified to prescribe or supply drugs, by a pharmaceutical company or any of its agents.
(ii) Further, as regards travel facilities, the UCPMP Code prohibits extending travel facility inside the country or outside, including rail, air, ship, cruise tickets, paid vacations, etc., to Health Care Professionals and their family members for vacation or for attending conference, seminars, workshops, CME programme etc. as a delegate.
(iii) The UCPMP Code also provides that free samples of drugs shall not be supplied to any person who is not qualified to prescribe such product.
(iv) Additionally, the UCPMP Code's regulations regarding Hospitality and Cash or Monetary Grant are the same as the MCI Regulations. However, the UCPMP Code does not quantify any allowable limits or any penalty/ punishment based on the quantification of grants.
• Presently, the UCPMP Code suggests that the committee can propose one of the following decisions against the alleged company to the Head of the Association: (i) suspend or expel the company from the Association, (ii) reprimand the company and publish details of that reprimand, (iii) require the company to issue a corrective statement in the media (covering all media), or (iv) ask the company to recover items from the concerned persons, given in violation of the UCPMP Code, 2014.