Centre raps errant pharma companies

The Union Govt has come down heavily on errant pharmaceutical companies who allegedly bribe doctors to promote products. The sponsored conferences of doctors have also come under scanner.

The Union government has come down heavily on errant pharmaceutical companies who allegedly bribe doctors to promote products. The sponsored conferences of doctors have also come under scanner.

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Devendra Chaudhary, joint secretary, department of pharmaceuticals under the ministry of chemicals & fertilisers, through a letter, has asked the Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), the apex body of the pharma industry, to prevent such unethical practices of some of its members.

Taking note of this, the IDMA has set up a committee to enforce the implementation of its code and guidelines on pharmaceutical marketing practices. The committee will oversee the implementation of the guidelines and would meet from time to time to review the code, IDMA said.

Daara B Patel, secretary-general, IDMA, said that the association was aware of such unethical practices of some its members for the sake of promoting their own products.

“We severely condemns such practices and we will support the government in taking appropriate action against such erring manufacturers,” Patel said.