Lok Sabha Question No. 3279 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Unethical Deal by Manufacturer of Dolo-650
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3279 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05 th  AUGUST, 2022

## UNETHICAL DEAL BY MANUFACTURER OF DOLO-650

## 3279: SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

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

- (a)  whether  there  were  IT  raids  in  which  manufacturer  of  Dolo-650  were  found  to  be involved in unethical deals and swindled money;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  proposed  to  check  unethical  practices  to  protect  ordinary people from such deals;
- (d) the number of similar deals came to notice of the Government during the last five years, State/UT-wise; and
- (e) the action taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  &  (b):  Department  of  Revenue  has  Informed  that  there  is  no  expression  'raid'  in  the Income  Tax  Act,  1961.  However,  the  Income  Tax  Department  conducts  investigations, including the Search & Seizure operations to bring to tax unaccounted income. Such actions are not limited to any particular sector, State/geography.

(c)  to  (e):  The  Department  of  Pharmaceuticals  informed  that  it  has  put  in  place  a  Uniform Code  for  Pharmaceutical  Marketing  Practices  (UCPMP)  for  Pharmaceutical  companies, which is in operation since 01.01.2015, to prevent unethical practices by the pharmaceutical companies. This is a voluntary code which 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.  Further, the code establishes relationship with healthcare professionals, wherein the provisions related to travel facilities, hospitality and cash or monetary grants to physicians or their families have been elaborated. The code also details the mode of operation of the code, responsibilities of the  Pharmaceutical  Associations  in  constituting  the  Ethics  Committee  for  Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP) for handling the complaints and Apex Ethics Committee for

Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (AECPMP)  for review, procedure of lodging a complaint,  procedure  of  handling  of  complaints  by  the  Pharmaceutical  Associations  and various penalty provisions. The UCPMP code is adopted by the all the major associations of pharmaceutical companies.

Indian  Medical  Council  (Professional  Conduct,  Etiquette  and  Ethics)  Regulations, 2002 formed under Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956), provides for conduct for doctors and professional association of doctors in their relationship with pharmaceutical and allied  health  sector  industry.  Under  this,  any  complaint  of  professional  misconduct  of  a medical  practitioner  or  professional  is  to  be  addressed  by  the  respective  State  Medical Councils.

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