• UGI USER
  • Dec 14, 2023
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS TO RESTRICT PHARMA FREEBIES TO DOCTORS

Why in the News?

A five-member committee, led by NITI Aayog member Vinod K. Paul, suggests measures to limit freebies given to doctors by pharmaceutical companies.

What are Pharma Freebies?

  • Pharma freebies refer to promotional items or gifts provided by pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals, particularly doctors.
  • These gifts often include branded items, educational materials, or samples of pharmaceutical products.
  • The intent is to influence medical practitioners positively, fostering brand recognition and potentially influencing prescription habits.

Review of Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP):

  • The panel, after reviewing the UCPMP, recommends modifications to address concerns.
  • While suggesting that the UCPMP should remain voluntary, it emphasizes the need for enforceability to penalize violations.

Key Measures Proposed:

  • Disclosure of Branded Gifts: Doctors should disclose the price of branded gifts received, and the value should not exceed ₹1,000.
  • Restrictions on CME Workshops: Prohibition of Continuous Medical Education (CME) workshops for doctors in foreign locations.
  • Taxation on Research Funding: Money received by medical practitioners from pharmaceutical companies for research should be taxable.
  • TDS: “Tax deduction at source for free drug samples when their value exceeds ₹20,000 per year, with a suggestion to examine thresholds as a percentage of sales by the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
  • Specific value limits: A 100-page report submitted to the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) suggests specific value limits.