Lok Sabha Question No. 2003 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Unethical Medical Practices
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2003 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST DECEMBER, 2018

## UNETHICAL MEDICAL PR ACTICES

## 2003. DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL 'NISHANK':

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government to  check  allurement  given  to  the  doctors by  the pharmaceutical companies for prescribing their medicines;
- (b)  whether  pharmaceutical ompanies  senddoctors  to  foreign countries  on  holidays  to prescribe their medicines and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government tocheck it;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has l unched  any  special  campaign  to  promote generic medicines and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the other steps being taken to link doctors with activities related to new technology and research developments?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) &(b): The  Uniform  Code  of  Pharmaceuticals  Marketing  Practices  (UCPMP) announced by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in December, 2014 which is in operati since 01.01.2015 for voluntary adoption by pahrma industry provides that the manufacturers should not use any unethical practices for luring doctors to boost sales of their produ

In certain cases, complaints have been received by D/o Pharmaceuticals against s pharmaceutical companies for using unethical practices for promoting their products. Thes complaints  were  examined  and  suitable  action  was  taken  by  that  Department  as  per provision of the Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP).

Further,  Clause  6.8  (C ode  of  Conduct  for  doctors  in  their  relationship  with pharmaceutical and allied health sector industry) of the Indian Medical Council (Profe Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 prohibits doctors from taking gifts, facilities,  hos pitality  and  case  or  monetary  grants  from  pharmaceutical  and  allied  hea sector industry. The said regulation empower the Medical Council of India and respe State Medical Council to award punishment to a doctor against any act in violation of f Ethics.

(c): In  order  to  promote  the  use  of  generic  drugs  and  make  available  quality  gen medicines at affordable prices, 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana' (PMBJP) was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemic als & Fertilizers, Government of India in the country. At present, 4571 PMBJP Kendras are functional in States/UTs of the country.

Further,  the  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  has  taken  various  regulato measures to promote and ensure th e quality of generic medicines. These include instructions to Licensing Authorities to grant/ renew licenses to manufacture for sale or for distr drugs in proper/generic names only, amendment in the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 f making  it  m andatory  to  grant  license  for  a  drug  formulation  containing  single  ac ingredient in proper name only, and inclusion of provision in the Rules, 1945 for subm of the result of bioequivalence study alongwith application for grant of manufacturing cense in  the  case  of  certain  drugs  and  also  provision  for  joint  inspection  of  manufa establishment by the Drugs Inspectors of Central Government and State Government.

Medical Council of India (MCI) has notified an amendment in Clause 1.5 of Indi Medical  Council  (Professional  Conduct,  Etiquette  and  Ethics)  Regulations,  2002,  wh stipulates  that  'Every  physician  should  prescribe  drugs  with  generic  names  le gibly  and preferably in capital letters and he/she shall ensure that there is a rational prescrip of  drugs'.  Medical  Council  of  India  vide  its  Circulars  dated  21.04.2017,  22.11.2012  and 18.01.2013  has  reiterated  that  all  physicians  should  presc ribe  drugs  with  generic  names. Instructions have also been issued to all the Central Government Health Scheme (CGH Wellness Centers to ensure that prescription is only by generic name wherever generic are available.

(d):  As  per  the  Indian  Medical Council  (Professional  Conduct,  Etiquette  and  Ethics) Regulations,  2002,  a  Physician  should  participate  in  professional  meetings  as  a  p Continuing Medical Education (CME). In order to enhance professional skills and to up their medical knowledge, such CMEs must be attended by medical practitioners for at least 30  hours  every  5  years,  organized  by  reputed  professional  academic  bodies  or  any  o authorized organisations.