New Delhi: A uniform code has been implemented by the government on Friday for marketing practices in the medical device industry to curb unethical practices.
The department of pharmaceuticals (DoP), in a notification, has urged the medical devices association to prohibit organising workshops abroad for healthcare professionals, offering them hotel stays or monetary grants.
“All associations should constitute an ethics committee for marketing practices in medical devices (ECMPMD), upload it on their websites along with a detailed procedure of complaints, which will be linked to the UCPMP portal of Department of Pharmaceuticals,” the notification stated.
The DoP has also sought medical devices firms for disclosures for particulars related to distribution of evaluation samples and expenses incurred on conferences , workshops, seminars etc. As part of the code, a medical device must not be promoted prior to receipt of product approval by the regulatory authority, the notification said.
“The word safe or safety must not be used without qualification and it must not be stated categorically that a medical device has no adverse consequences,” it stated. Moreover, no gift that benefits any healthcare professional or their family personally, should be offered by any medical device company or its agent.
“Companies or their representatives or any person acting on their behalf should not extend travel facilities inside or outside the country to healthcare professionals or their family members for attending conferences , seminars workshops etc,” it said.
It also added that no extension should be made by companies or their representatives for hospitality services like hotel stay, expensive cuisine , resort accommodation etc to healthcare professionals or their family members.
The companies or their representatives should refrain from making a cash pay or monetary grants to any healthcare professional or their family members.
The DoP has requested medical devices companies to upload the Uniform Code for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (UCMPMD) 2024 on their website. In addition, they should also list the detailed procedure for lodging of complaints with a link to the UCMPMD portal of the department.
Earlier this year, the DoP had also notified the Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024.
