UPSC Daily Current Affairs- September 17, 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

Context

We celebrate Periyar E.V. Ramasamy’s birth anniversary (September 17) as Social Justice Day.

Who is periyar?

• Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, revered as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. 
• He is known as the ‘Father of the Dravidian movement’. He rebelled against Brahminical dominance and gender and caste inequality in Tamil Nadu.

Who started self-respect movement?

• The self-respect movement was founded by V.Ramaswamy Naicker, commonly known as Periyar. 
• It was a dynamic social movement aimed at destroying the contemporary Hindu social order in its totality and creating a new, rational society without caste, religion and god.

Why Periyar is called as vaikom hero?

• V. Ramasamy Periyar led the famous Vaikom Sathya Graha in 1924, where the people of down trodden community were prohibited to enter into the temple. 
• Finally, the Travancore government relaxed such segregation and allowed the people to enter into the temple. Hence periyar was given the title of ‘Vaikom Hero’.

Leadership at a critical juncture

• The satyagraha began with the active support of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee.
• Within a week all its leaders were behind bars. George Joseph sought directions from Gandhi and C. Rajagopalachari. He also wrote to Periyar pleading with him to lead the satyagraha.
• Periyar was in the midst of political work. As he was then the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, Periyar handed over temporary charge to Rajaji before reaching Vaikom in 1924.
• From that date to the day of the victory celebrations in 1925, he was in the struggle giving it leadership at a critical juncture.

Periyar’s role

• Against violence: Periyar presided over the satyagraha in the face of violence and indignity inflicted by the orthodox and the repression of the police.
• Mobilising: To mobilise support, he visited villages in and around Vaikom and delivered public speeches in several towns.
• Gandhi: When the Kerala leaders asked for Gandhi’s permission to make the satyagraha an all-India affair, Gandhi refused saying that volunteers from Tamil Nadu would keep it alive.
• In reports: The British Resident said in his report to the government of Madras: “In fact, the movement would have collapsed long ago but for the support it has received from outside Travancore…”
• Historian T.K. Ravindran: Observes that Periyar’s arrival gave “a new life to the movement”.

His Vision for the future

• Ideas on rationality: When he presented his thoughts, there was nuance, honesty, and an explicitness, which prompted even people practising different faiths to discuss and debate his ideas on rationality and religion.
• Freedom of expression: Periyar himself said, “Everyone has the right to refute any opinion. But no one has the right to prevent its expression.”
• Eradication of social evils: Periyar is often referred to as an iconoclast, for the rebellious nature of his ideas and the vigour with which he acted. His vision for the future was a part of all his actions. He did not merely aim at the eradication of social evils; he also wanted to put an end to activities that do not collectively raise standards of society.

Foundation of rationalism

• He understood the evolution of political thought: Periyar’s vision was about inclusive growth and freedom of individuals. He was an important ideologue of his day because of the clarity in his political stand. More importantly, he understood the evolution of political thought and was able to glide through time with this.
• He presented rationalism as a solid foundation: For thinking along these lines. He said, “Wisdom lies in thinking. The spearhead of thinking is rationalism.” Periyar was way ahead of his time.
• Concern towards poor: “Whomsoever I love and hate, my principle is the same. That is, the educated, the rich and the administrators should not suck the blood of the poor.”
• Periyar proclaimed that he would always stand with the oppressed: In the fight against oppressors and that his enemy was oppression. There have been several social reformers in Tamil Nadu who shared their revolutionary thoughts with the people in the past century. In that spectrum, Periyar occupies a unique place because he made interactions of multiple worlds possible.

Conclusion

• His works against the Bhraminical dominance, oppression of women in Tamil Nadu, caste prevalence are exemplary. Periyar promoted the principles of rationalism, self-respect, women’s rights and eradication of caste. 
• He opposed the exploitation and marginalisation of the people of South India and the imposition of what he considered Indo-Aryan India.

Context

Though the Global population, in terms of numbers, has been steadily increasing the average global fertility rate has been consistently declining over the past 70 years.

What Reports say?

• Reports suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030.
• According to the World Population Prospects 2022, Average number of children per woman in the reproductive age group has declined by 50%, from an average of five children per woman in 1951 to4 children in 2020.

What is Fertility?

• Fertility is the quality or state of being fertile.
• Fertility is the ability to reproduce through normal sexual interaction. In other words, it is the natural capacity to conceive a biological child.
• Fertility changes with age. Both males and females become fertile in their teens following puberty.

What is fertility rate?

• The number of live births in women over a specific length of time.
• Total fertility rate is the average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime.

Overview of fertility dynamics

• Reason: Speeding up the social phenomenon of demographic transition.
• Poorer countries: speeding up the Transition a lot faster than the richer ones.
• Britain: Took 130 years to transition from a fertility rate of five per woman in 1800 to two in 1930, whereas
• South Korea: Took 20 years from 1965 to 1985 to achieve the same. South Korea reporting the lowest fertility rate, 1.05 children per woman.
• Most advanced economies: Have their fertility rate below the replacement rate of 2.1.
• Sub-Saharan African countries: Expected to contribute more than half the population growth after 2050 and grow through 2100. For example, Niger a sub Saharan country with highest fertility rate in the world, estimated to be 91 children per woman.
• What is Demographic transition: is a long-term trend of declining birth and death rate. It is shift from high birth rates to low birth rates in societies with minimal technology, education (especially of women) and economic development and from high death rates to Low death rates in societies with advanced economies and development.

Where India Stands

• According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS), fertility rate falling below the replacement level for the first time to 2.0 in 2021.dropped from 2.2 to 2.0.
• Only five States have a fertility rate above the replacement rate: Bihar (3), Meghalaya (2.9), Uttar Pradesh (2.4), Jharkhand (2.3), and Manipur (2.2)
• At the time of Independence, India’s fertility rate was six per woman, and it had taken 25 years to reach five, with the government launching the first ever family planning program in the world in 1952.
• India’s fertility further declined to four in the 1990s when Kerala became the first State in India to have a fertility rate below replacement l
• Increased use of contraception, more years of average schooling, better health care, and an increase in the mean marriage age of women are of the reasons behind the steady dip in fertility rate.

Lower fertility rate as cause and consequences on the economy

• Positive impact
  • Lower fertility leads to rise in women’s education.
  • Window of time where the ration of working-age population is higher than that of the dependent age groups.
  • This high proportion of people in the workforce boosts income and investment, and higher level of saving.
  • Lower pressure on land, water and other resources and would also contribute to achieving environmental goals.
  • Advanced health care and better nutrition, results in increased life expectancy and productivity of citizens.
•  Negative impact
  • Lower fertility impacts women’s education positively, which in turn lowers the fertility of the next generations.
  • While the income rises with better health care and better infrastructure development, Fertility drops.
  • A fall in fertility rate beyond replacement level would have a negative effect on the proportion of the working population, which in turn will affect output in an economy.
  • After the window of demographic dividend, the huge working age population moves to old age, supported by fewer workers.
  • Japan was the first country to experience the implications of falling fertility rates. Country is now facing fiscal challenges to meet rising social security costs.

Experiments to deal with fertility decline

Countries across the globe are experimenting with policies to boost fertility.

• Germany: found success in boosting births through liberal labour laws, allowing more parental leave and benefits.
• Denmark: offering state-funded IVF for women below 40 years
• Hungary: Recently nationalized IVF clinics.
• Poland: Gives out monthly cash payments to parents having more than two children
• Russia: Makes one-time payment to parents when their second child is born. Reinstituted the Soviet-era ‘Mother Heroine’ title, who bore and raised more than 10 children amounting to almost a one-time payment of 13 lakh.

Way ahead

• Need of the hour is to ensure liberal labor reforms, encourage higher female labor force participation, higher focus on nutrition and health.
• Although India’s working-age population will continue to grow for many more decades, it would need to keep an eye on fertility dips.

Context

Oxfam India’s latest ‘India Discrimination Report 2022’ finds women in India despite their same educational qualifications and work experience as men will be discriminated in the labour market due to societal and employers’ prejudices.

About the report

The Oxfam India report refers to unit-level data from:

• 61st round National Sample Survey (NSS) data on employment-unemployment (2004-05)
• Periodic Labour Force Survey in 2018-19 and 2019-20 and
• All India Debt and Investment Survey by the government

Key highlights

• Decline of women in workforce
  • As per the Union Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), LFPR for women in India was only 25.1 percent in 2020-21 for urban and rural women.
  • This is considerably lower than Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa as per the latest World Bank estimates.
  • The LFPR for women in India has rapidly declined from 42.7 percent in 2004-05 to mere 25.1 percent in 2021 showing the withdrawal of women from the workforce.
• Earning Gap
  • There is also a significant gap in the earnings between men and women in the case of regular and self-employment in urban areas.
  • The average earning is INR 15,996 for men and merely INR 6,626 for women in urban areas in self-employment.
  • The men’s average earning is nearly 2.5 times that of the earnings of women
• Communal aspects of discrimination
  • Oppressed communities such as Dalits and Adivasis along with religious minorities such as Muslims also continue to face discrimination in accessing jobs, livelihoods, and agricultural credit.
  • The mean income for SCs or STs persons in urban areas who are regular employed is INR 15,312 as against INR 20,346 for persons belonging to the General Category.
  • The rural SC and ST communities are facing increase in discrimination in casual employment, the report shows.
  • The data shows that the unequal income among urban SC and ST casual wage work is because of 79 percent discrimination in 2019-20.
• Muslims and economic backwardness
  • Muslims continue to face multidimensional challenges in accessing salaried jobs and income through self-employment as compared to non-Muslims.
  • In rural areas, the sharpest increase of 17 percent in unemployment was for Muslims as compared to non-Muslims during the first quarter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 6 percent of the urban Muslims population aged 15 and above were engaged in regular salaried jobs whereas 23.3 percent of non-Muslims are in regular salaried jobs in 2019-20.
  • The lower employment for urban Muslims attributes 68.3 percent to discrimination in 2019-20.
  • The report shows that the discrimination faced by Muslims in 2004-05 was 59.3 percent, indicating an increase in discrimination by 09 percent over the last 16 years.

Recommendations from the report

• Actively enforce effective measures for the implementation of the right to equal wages and work for all women.
• Work to actively incentivise the participation of women in workforce including enhancements in pay, upskilling, job reservations and easy return-to-work options after maternity.
• Work to actively challenge and change societal and caste/religion-based norms, around women’s’ participation in labour markets.
• Strengthen civil society’s engagement in ensuring a more equitable distribution of household work and childcare duties between women and men and facilitating higher participation of women in labour market
• Implement “living wages” as opposed to minimum wages, particularly for all informal workers and formalise contractual, temporary and casual labour as much as possible.
• Extend priority lending and credit access to all farmers, regardless of social groups and penalize biased lending.

GS-II

Context

Recently, Russia hosted the 7^th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) at Vladivostok.

• The forum is a platform for entrepreneurs to expand their businesses into Russia’s Far East (RFE).

What is the Eastern Economic Forum?

• About
  • The EEF was established in 2015 to encourage foreign investments in the RFE.
  • The EEF displays the economic potential, suitable business conditions and investment opportunities in the region.
  • Agreements signed at the EEF increased from 217 in 2017 to 380 agreements in 2021, worth 3.6 trillion roubles.
  • The agreements focus on infrastructure, transportation projects, mineral excavations, construction, industry and agriculture.
• Key Players: China, South Korea, Japan and India are the Key Players in the region, where China is the biggest investor.
  • China who sees potential in promoting the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Polar Sea Route in the RFE.
  • China’s investments in the region account for 90% of the total investments.
• Objectives
  • Russia has strategically developed the region with the aim of connecting Russia to the Asian trading routes.
  • With the fast modernisation of cities like Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita and more, Russia aims to attract more investments in the region.
  • To survive the economic crisis and the sanctions with the help of China and other Asian powers.

What is the Significance of the RFE?

• The region encompasses one-third of Russia’s territory and is rich with natural resources such as fish, oil, natural gas, wood, diamonds and other minerals.
• The small population living in the region is another factor for encouraging people to move and work in the Far East.
• The region’s riches and resources contribute to 5 % of Russia’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
  • But despite the abundance and availability of materials, procuring and supplying them is an issue due to the unavailability of personnel.
• The RFE is geographically placed at a strategic location, acting as a gateway into Asia.

What does India Seek at the Forum?

• India seeks to expand its influence in the RFE. During the forum, India expressed its readiness in expanding trade, connectivity and investments in Russia.
• India is keen to deepen its cooperation in energy, pharmaceuticals, maritime connectivity, healthcare, tourism, the diamond industry and the Arctic.
  • In 2019, India offered a USD 1 billion line of credit to develop infrastructure in the region.
• Through the EEF, India aims to establish a strong inter-state interaction with Russia.
  • Business representatives of Gujarat and the Republic of Sakha (Russia) have launched agreements in the diamond and pharmaceuticals industry.

How does India act at Balancing Between the EEF and IPEF?

• Since the coming together of countries like Myanmar, Armenia, Russia, and China for EEF seems like the forming of an Anti-Sanctions Group in the international order, India has vested interests in both the forums, EEF and IPEF (U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework).
• India has not shied away from investing in the Russia-initiated EEF despite the current international conditions, where western countries impose Sanctions on Russia.
• At the same time, India has given its confirmation and acceptance to three of the four pillars in the IPEF.
• India understands the benefits of being involved in the development of the RFE but it also perceives the IPEF as a vital platform to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
• The IPEF also presents an ideal opportunity for India to act in the region, without being part of the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or other regional groupings like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)

Context

Recently, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has come up with penalties for any further delay in completing the flagship rural household scheme — Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin).

Why is the Need for Imposing Penalties?

• About
  • The penalty would be levied on the state government. If the sanction of the house is delayed for more than one month from the date of issue of the target, the State government will be penalised Rs 10 per house for the first month of delay and Rs 20 per house for each subsequent month of delay.
  • Similarly, if the first instalment due to the beneficiary is delayed for more than seven days from the date of sanction, then the State governments will have to pay Rs 10 per house per week of delay.
  • No penalty would be imposed if the central funds are not available with the State.
• Need
  • To Reorient Focus: Due to Covid-19, there was sluggishness in the implementation of the scheme, therefore by imposing penalties the central government is ensuring that the States pay more attention to the programme.
  • Issues with State Government: West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Odisha along Assam are the leading four laggard States who are far behind their targets.
    • Further, the West Bengal government repackaged the scheme as “Bangla Awas Yojana” and due to this reason, the central government withheld funds meant for the scheme.

What do we Know about Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna Gramin?

• Ministry Involved: Ministry of Rural development.
• Aim: To provide a pucca house with basic amenities to all rural families, who are homeless or living in kutcha or dilapidated houses by the end of March 2022.
  • To help rural people Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of a full grant.
• Beneficiaries: People belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories, widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action, ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces, disabled persons and minorities.
• Selection of Beneficiaries: Through a three-stage validation - Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, Gram Sabha, and geo-tagging.
• Cost Sharing: The cost of unit assistance is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio of 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states.
• Features
  • The unit assistance has been increased from Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1.20 lakh in plain and from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1.30 lakh in hilly states.
  • The assistance for construction of toilets shall be leveraged through convergence with Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G), MGNREGS or any other dedicated source of funding.
• Performance: Under the scheme, the government has set the target of 2.95 crore houses and by August 2022, 2.02 crore houses have been constructed.

Context

Recently, important issues of Medical Technology (MedTech) Industry were taken-up at the first meeting of the reconstituted National Medical Device Promotion Council (NMDPC).

What were the Key Highlights of the Meeting?

• Agenda
  • Central Drugs Standards and Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the State Licensing Authorities (SLAs) provided updates for the smooth transition to licensing of Class A and B Medical Devices w.e.f 1st October 2022.
    • Medical devices under Medical Devices Rules, 2017 are classified as:
      • Class A (low risk): E.g., absorbent cotton balls, alcohol swabs.
      • Class B (low moderate risk): E.g., thermometer, BP monitoring device.
      • Class C (moderate high risk): E.g., implants.
      • Class D (high risk): E.g., heart valves.
  • Department of Pharmaceuticals provided the latest status of the various initiatives such as 100% Foreign direct Investment (FDI) in MedTech Sector on automatic route, Production-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) scheme for Medical Devices, Medical Devices Parks in four States (Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh), etc.
  • The discussion regarding the requirement of National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation of In-House labs of the manufacturers of specific Medical Devices was taken-up during the meeting.
• Concerns Highlighted
  • There is a regulatory burden of labelling requirements of Medical Devices.
  • There are only 18 certified Medical Device Testing Laboratories that have been approved by CDSCO and that is grossly insufficient keeping in view the size of the country.
  • Indian Medical Devices Industry presently lacks research ecosystem and infrastructure for manufacturing of high tech, advanced medical devices (Class C&D).

What were the Key Recommendations made by the NMDPC?

• Harmonize the Labelling Provisions: There is a need to move forward to harmonize the provisions of labeling of Medical Devices under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodity) Rules, 2011 into Medical Device Rules, 2017, for licensed medical devices.
• Investment in the Medical Devices Park: The Medical Devices Industry Associations representatives were encouraged to actively engage with states, which were sanctioned Medical Devices Parks by the Department for creating common infrastructure facilities and come forward to invest in the proposed parks to boost domestic manufacturing.
• Active Participation in the National MedTech Expo, 2022: The industry’s support was also asked for the proposed National MedTech Expo, 2022 to showcase the strengths and capabilities of Indian Medical Devices Industry.
• Need of More Certified Medical Devices Testing Laboratories: An adequate common infrastructure including accredited laboratories in various regions of the country for standard testing should be in place.
• Post-market Surveillance system and Medical Device Registry: There must be a robust IT enabled feedback driven post-market surveillance system and medical device registry, particularly for implants to ensure traceability of patient who has received the implant in order to assess the performance of the implant.
• New Legislation for a New Regulator
  • The Committee has recommended that the new legislation should set up a new set of regulators at different levels for regulating the medical devices industry.
    • The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers should allow the new regulator to involve institutions such as Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and network of Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) to test medical devices for safety and efficacy.
  • Medical device regulations must be dispensed with by qualified and well-trained Medical Device Officers to give a boost to the Medical Device industry in the country.
• Research Linked Incentive (RLI) Scheme: The Committee recommended the Department to start a RLI Scheme in Line with the PLI scheme.
• Upskilling of the Medical Device Officers: The Ministry should work in synergy with State governments and impart the necessary skills to the local medical device officers.
• A Single Window Clearing Platform: A single window clearing platform for application of license for manufacturing, export, import must be set up that shall also integrate all these bodies involved in the regulation of medical devices.
  • The Ministry must incorporate such an all-encompassing “single window clearing/approval system” in the proposed new separate Act for the regulation of Medical Devices.

Eklavya Schools get short shrift in teacher recruitments

Context

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has so far been unable to fix the teacher shortage faced across 378 of Eklavya model residential schools (EMRS) that are currently functional.

About Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)

• EMRS started in the year 1997-98 to impart quality education to Scheduled Tribes (ST) children in remote areas in order.
• It aims to enable them to avail of opportunities in high and professional educational courses and get employment in various sectors.
• The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students.
• Each school has a capacity of 480 students, catering to students from Class VI to XII.
• Hitherto, grants were given for construction of schools and recurring expenses to the State Governments under Grants under Article 275 (1) of the Constitution.
• Eklavya schools are on par with Navodaya Vidyalaya and have special facilities for preserving local art and culture besides providing training in sports and skill development.

Features of Eklavya Schools

• Admission to these schools will be through selection/competition with suitable provision for preference to children belonging to Primitive Tribal Groups, first-generation students, etc.
• Sufficient land would be given by the State Government for the school, playgrounds, hostels, residential quarters, etc., free of cost.
• The number of seats for boys and girls will be equal.
• In these schools, education will be entirely free.

Where are the Eklavya schools located?

• It has been decided that by the year 2022, every block with more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons, will have an EMRS.
• Wherever density of ST population is higher in identified Sub-Districts (90% or more), it is proposed to set up Eklavya Model Day Boarding School (EMDBS) on an experimental basis.
• They aim for providing additional scope for ST Students seeking to avail school education without residential facility.

GS-IV

Context

Recently, The Central Board for Direct Taxes (CBDT) has accused the makers of the Dolo-650 tablet of spending Rs 1,000 crore to distribute freebies to doctors for prescribing the medicine.

• It is likely to put the stress on making the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) a legally binding code of ethics.

What do we need to know about Freebies in Drug Marketing?

• About
  • Drug manufacturing companies have been observed practicing ‘Gift-giving’: offering freebies ranging from free dinners and drug samples to promotional merchandise to doctors for their product marketing.
    • In order to promote their products, pharma companies allegedly arrange accommodation in five-star hotels, local sight-seeing, etc. in conferences conducted by doctors.
  • This is a well-oiled racket that sees pharmaceutical (pharma) companies ‘gifting’ doctors to push their respective drugs under the guise of marketing.
• Pharma Company’s Stand
  • Drug firms would offer branded souvenirs like pen stands, calendars, diaries or sanitizers to doctors.
    • The idea is to ensure top-of-the-mind recall of their brands.
  • The Indian market is price-controlled. Therefore, the differentiator here is the brands and this is common practice.
  • However, these practices do not ensure doctors will prescribe their drugs. It is simply a marketing strategy.
  • Around 95% of the items being gifted have a value less than Rs 500.
    • It does not constitute a bribe. It is done to make the doctor remember a brand among the hundred others with a similar price point.
• All India Drug Action Network’s Stand
  • Ethical marketing and promotion should be brought within the ambit of the new Drugs, Medical Devices, and Cosmetics Act being formulated.
  • It is observed that often, doctors are made lead investigators in clinical trials, or made part of committees for which they earn a hefty fee.

What is Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP)?

• About
  • This is a set of guidelines published by the Central Government in December 2014 to the pharmaceutical industry for the promotion and marketing of drugs and medical devices.
  • However, these guidelines are voluntary code and not legally binding on companies.
• Significance
  • This code governs the conduct of pharmaceutical companies in their marketing practices, duly covering the various aspects such as medical representatives, textual and audio-visual promotional materials, samples, gifts, etc.
  • The code establishes relationships with healthcare professionals, wherein the provisions related to travel facilities, hospitality and cash or monetary grants to physicians or their families have been elaborated.
• Key Provisions
  • According to Clause 7.2 of the UCPMP, “companies or their associations/representatives shall not extend any hospitality like hotel accommodation to healthcare practitioners and their family members under any pretext”.
  • A drug must not be promoted prior to receipt of marketing approval by the competent authority.
    • The promotion of the drug must be consistent with the terms of the marketing approval.
  • No gifts, pecuniary advantages or benefits in kind may be offered/supplied to persons qualified to prescribe or supply drugs by a pharmaceutical company.
  • Gifts for the personal benefit of healthcare professionals and family members are also not to be offered or provided.

Way Forward

• If found guilty of unethically promoting drug brands to doctors, companies should face the same penal action as is mentioned in the Indian Penal Code for bribery and other similar unethical practices.
• The government should make it mandatory for periodic disclosures of payments made by companies to doctors and professional bodies, directly or indirectly via other parties, to be accessible to the public. The disclosures should include the amount, purpose of expenditure, and the party paid.
• The UCPMP should be legally binding on the companies. Currently, the codes neither have the power nor the incentive to punish companies
  • It falls upon pharma associations to enforce the voluntary code.