27 March 2026·PIB

Measures to curb Malpractices in Pharma Companies

In this note

1. At a Glance

UCPMP 2024 = government-notified code regulating how pharma firms market drugs to doctors / Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) to prevent unethical inducements [1][2].
Notified by Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, on 12 March 2024 [1][2].
Topical for GS-II (governance/health) & GS-IV (ethics in private sector, conflict of interest) — links to drug pricing, medical ethics, consumer protection.

DoP issued a press communication on 27 March 2026 reiterating measures under UCPMP 2024 to curb pharma malpractices, including the operational framework for complaints and penalties [1].
Backdrop: recurring controversies over freebies, foreign trips, and gifts to doctors influencing prescription behaviour.

2012: First UCPMP issued as a voluntary code by DoP; widely criticised for being non-binding [2].
CBDT Circular No. 5/2012 & later Apex Laboratories vs DCIT (2022, SC) held that freebies to doctors are not deductible business expenditure under Sec. 37(1), IT Act (general knowledge — not cited from search).
Various extensions of the voluntary code through 2014–2023; demands grew for a statutory code [2].
12 March 2024: DoP notified the revised UCPMP 2024 with an operational complaints + penalty mechanism [1][2].

Name: Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 [1].
Notified by: Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers [1].
Date of notification: 12 March 2024 [1][2].
Scope: Governs interactions between pharma companies / medical representatives and doctors / RMPs; covers textual and audio-visual promotional material, free samples, gifts, hospitality, brand reminders [2].
Two-tier grievance architecture [2]:
Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP) — constituted by pharmaceutical associations to handle complaints.
Apex Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (AECPMP) — review body.
Prohibitions [1][2]: gifts, monetary benefits, hospitality, or travel to HCPs or their family members.
Disclosure requirement: Self-declaration of code adherence; disclosure of expenditure on CMEs / CPDs (Continuing Medical Education / Professional Development) [2].
Penalties [2]: recovery of value of gift from concerned person; corrective statement in media for non-compliant promotional material; referral for action under existing laws.

Ethical / Governance

Tackles conflict of interest between prescriber autonomy and commercial inducement [1][2].
Holds pharma companies vicariously accountable for actions of medical representatives & employees [2].

Economic

Inflates drug prices when promotional spend (freebies, foreign trips) is loaded onto MRP — UCPMP indirectly supports affordability agenda [1].
Complements National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) price-control function (general).

Legal / Constitutional

UCPMP remains an executive code, not a statute — enforceability gap; uses self-regulation by industry associations rather than statutory penalties [2].
Synergises with Sec. 37(1) Income Tax Act disallowance of freebie expenditure and with Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

Administrative

Implementation rests on industry-association-run ECPMPs, raising concerns of self-policing weakness [2].
DoP retains oversight via AECPMP appellate route and reference to other ministries for action [2].

Social / Health

Aims to protect patients from irrational prescribing driven by gifts; strengthens trust in doctor-patient relationship [1].

12 March 2024 — UCPMP 2024 notified, replacing the 2014 voluntary code [1][2].
2024 — Year-End Review by DoP highlighted UCPMP rollout among reform measures [3].
2024 — Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued guidelines on misleading advertisements relevant to health-product claims [4].
27 March 2026 — PIB communication reiterating UCPMP enforcement framework [1].

UCPMP 2024 notified on 12 March 2024 by Department of Pharmaceuticals [1][2].
Parent ministry: Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers [1].
UCPMP prohibits gifts/hospitality to family members of HCPs (not just HCPs themselves) [1].
Two-tier bodies: ECPMP (complaints) and AECPMP (apex/review) [2].
ECPMPs are constituted by Pharmaceutical Associations, not by Government directly [2].
UCPMP covers medical representatives, promotional material, samples, gifts — comprehensive scope [2].
Penalty includes corrective statement in media for non-compliant promotional material [2].
Original UCPMP was first issued in 2012 as a voluntary code [2].
CCPA (under Consumer Protection Act, 2019) issued guidelines on misleading ads in 2024 [4].

GS-II: Governance — regulation of private sector; issues relating to health.
GS-IV: Ethics in private institutions; corporate governance; probity.
GS-III: Indian economy — pharmaceutical industry, IPR.
Possible question stems:
"The voluntary self-regulation model of UCPMP 2024 is inadequate to curb pharmaceutical malpractices. Critically examine."
"Discuss the ethical dimensions of pharmaceutical marketing practices in India and the regulatory response of the State."
"Examine how the UCPMP 2024 complements the existing legal framework — Drugs & Cosmetics Act, Income Tax Act, and Consumer Protection Act — in curbing pharma malpractices."

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) & DPCO — drug-pricing regulator.
Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 & New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 — quality/safety regulation.
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) — drug regulator [S4 context].
Consumer Protection Act, 2019 & CCPA — misleading ad jurisdiction [4].
Jan Aushadhi / PMBJP — affordability angle.
National Medical Commission (NMC) regulations on professional conduct — doctor side of the freebie equation.
Apex Laboratories v. DCIT (2022) — SC ruling on tax disallowance of freebies.
Bulk Drug Parks / PLI for Pharma — industrial policy linkage.

UCPMP is NOT a statute — it is an executive code notified by DoP; aspirants often assume statutory backing.
Implementing department is Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), not Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
ECPMPs are set up by industry associations, not by Government — a key self-regulation point.
UCPMP regulates the pharma company side; doctor-side conduct is regulated by NMC, not UCPMP.
The 2024 code is a revised/notified version — the 2012 code already existed as voluntary; don't call 2024 "the first" code.