Last Updated on September 3, 2025 by The Health Master
UCPMP 2024
The government is taking some serious steps to ensure that the healthcare system remains fair and focused on patient well-being and strictly implements the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices 2024 (UCPMP 2024).
A Look at the New Rules
Recently, the Indian government shed some light on the actions it’s taking.
According to a statement in the Lok Sabha, there have been several complaints filed under the UCPMP 2024.
While the number of complaints might seem small, the government’s response shows a clear commitment to tackling the issue.
In one instance, a company was even reprimanded for offering doctors things like travel and fancy hospitality—a clear no-no.
The details were made public, which sends a strong message to others in the industry.
The UCPMP 2024 isn’t just a suggestion anymore.
The latest version, UCPMP, 2024, is much clearer and more direct.
It specifically bans companies from giving gifts, money, travel, or hospitality to doctors and their families.
This isn’t just a slap on the wrist; the penalties can be quite significant.
Companies might have to pay back the money or items, and they can be publicly reprimanded.
This kind of transparency is a powerful tool.
Doctor-Pharma interaction
It’s a comprehensive, multi-layered approach involving several different laws and regulations.
The Indian Medical Council Regulations, 2002:
These are the ground rules for doctors themselves.
They explicitly forbid doctors from accepting any kind of gifts, cash, or perks from pharmaceutical companies.
The punishments for breaking these rules can be severe, ranging from a simple warning to being removed from the medical register for a long time.
The Income-tax Act, 1961:
This one hits the companies where it hurts—their wallets.
Under this act, any money a pharma company spends on these “unethical” benefits given to doctors can’t be considered as a tax deduction.
It makes it financially unattractive for pharma companies to be involved in such practices.
The Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1954:
This older law focuses on advertising of drugs.
It stops companies from making wild or false claims about their drugs, especially for critical diseases.
Due to this law, pharma companies have to depend on doctors to promote their drugs properly, which is why the doctor-pharma relationship is so important to regulate.
Why This Matters for Patients
Ultimately, all these rules are in place for one reason: to protect the health of the people.
When a doctor prescribes a drug, the patient wants to be sure that the prescribed drug is the best option for them, not because the doctor has been influenced by a pharma company.
These new measures aim to:
Promote the right prescription: Ensuring doctors choose the right medicine for the right reasons.
Prevent unethical influence: Cut off the links through which pharma companies might try to influence doctors’ decisions.
Increase transparency: The new UCPMP 2024 requires pharma companies to disclose how much they spend on things like professional development events for doctors and the value of free samples they distribute.
The government is also making sure that what the doctor writes on your prescription pad is exactly what you get.
A rule under the Drugs Rules, 1945, ensures that a pharmacist can’t substitute a prescribed drug with a different one, especially for important medications.
This small but crucial detail is another layer of protection for patients.
Q: Are all interactions between doctors and pharma companies banned?
A: No. The rules are designed to curb unethical practices like giving gifts and lavish trips. Legitimate interactions like providing free samples for patients in need or sponsoring educational events are still allowed, but they must be disclosed and fall within strict guidelines.
Q: Why was the UCPMP not made a legally binding law?
A: A government committee looked at this and decided that with the existing legal framework—specifically the rules for doctors under the Indian Medical Council and the tax laws for companies—a separate, legally binding UCPMP wasn’t necessary at this time.
Disclaimer: This article contains information obtained from the source mentioned below. Our team made changes in the format to rewrite and present the news or article in a unique format.
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