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Supreme Court Directs Centre to Form Panel on Pharma Gift Practices
M
Moneycontrol•08-10-2026, 11:29
Supreme Court Directs Centre to Form Panel on Pharma Gift Practices
- •The Supreme Court directed the Centre to constitute a committee to examine suggestions on regulating pharmaceutical marketing practices.
- •The panel will recommend measures to prevent drug companies from offering expensive gifts and incentives to doctors for promoting medicines.
- •The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta scheduled the next hearing for January 29 to review the compliance affidavit.
- •The order stems from a 2021 petition filed by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association.
- •The Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices, 2024 will remain in effect pending the committee report.
Key Questions Answered
The Supreme Court directed the Centre to constitute a committee to examine pharmaceutical marketing practices and recommend measures to prevent drug companies from offering expensive gifts and incentives to doctors.
The 2021 petition was filed by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association, seeking to regulate unethical marketing practices and accountability from pharmaceutical companies.
Pending the committee's report and a decision on a proposed statutory framework, the sector continues to be governed by the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices, 2024.
