SC orders Centre to form panel for law on unethical pharma marketing
The bench said the committee will review complaints and recommend whether the voluntary code needs statutory backing.
- On Thursday, October 8, 2026, The Supreme Court directed the Centre to constitute a committee to examine whether pharmaceutical companies require a legally enforceable framework to curb unethical marketing practices.
- The petition, filed by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Associations of India, alleged that pharmaceutical companies offer doctors direct or indirect advantages such as gifts and foreign trips in exchange for increased drug sales.
- While the Union government highlighted the existing Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices , 2024, it acknowledged a regulatory gap regarding whether voluntary rules require statutory backing to address unethical conduct.
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta ordered the committee to consider representations and provide recommendations, with the matter scheduled for hearing on January 29, 2027, to examine compliance.
- Separately, the Union health ministry proposed mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores to curb prescription drug abuse, requiring stores to maintain recordings for three months as part of broader enforcement efforts.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Supreme Court orders Centre to form panel to regulate unethical pharma marketing
The petition had raised concerns over pharmaceutical companies allegedly offering doctors expensive gifts, overseas trips, and other incentives to encourage the prescription of particular drugs
SC directs Centre to form panel on curbing unethical pharma marketing practices
The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to set up a committee on unethical pharmaceutical marketing. The panel will examine suggestions on a statutory framework while the 2024 marketing code remains in force.
New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) The Supreme Court has taken a major step to curb the practice of pharma companies giving expensive gifts and perks to doctors to boost drug sales. The Supreme Court has ordered the central government to constitute a special committee and submit its report to the court. The matter relates to a petition filed by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India (FMRAI) in 2021. The petition demanded t…
SC directs Centre to form committee on statutory regulation of pharma marketing practices
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to constitute a committee to examine the need for statutory regulation of pharmaceutical companies' marketing practices, including the offering of gifts, hospitality and other benefits to doctors to promote their products. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the direction while hearing a plea seeking statutory regulation of pharmaceutical marketing practices and m…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
