Lok Sabha Question No. 319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-21
Subject: Sales of Dolo Tablets
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 319 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST JULY, 2023

## SALES OFDOLO TABLETS

## 319: SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the quadruple rise in sales of Dolo tablets which accounts for more than 350 crore tablets sold since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic for anti-cold and fever and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government has approved any official notification or guidelines for necessary
- consumption of Dolo tablets during COVID-19 and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is considering taking strict action against the manufacturers of Dolo tablets for their indulgence in unfair drug promotion practices and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government is considering a comprehensive policy framework to regulate drug promotion, particularly to curb malpractices and misinformation during the pandemic and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has informed that the Government monitored the sales of drugs related to treatment of COVID-19 including Paracetamol to ensure their availability in the Country. During different waves of COVID, the sales of Paracetamol increased due to increase in the number of COVID cases. As per market based data provided by an agency and as available with National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), sales of Dolo 500/650 mg during FY 2018-19 was 9,358 lakh tablets and peak annual sales was 31,173 lakh tablets during FY 2021-22.

DoP has also 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.

Moreover, Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 and Rules encompass the provisions for prohibition of misleading advertisements and exaggerated claims of drugs and medicinal substances. Any contravention of this provision is punishable under the Act.

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