New Delhi: On Friday, the Government notified the Uniform Code for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (UCMPMD) 2024 to regulate medical practices in the devices industry. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has mandated the adoption of new policies urging medical device associations to implement the code amongst members. The new code has been created to impose strict guidelines to ensure transparency and protection of healthcare professionals and patients and to prevent promotional activities.
The guidelines also mandated the establishment of an Ethics Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (ECMPMD) to ensure the disclosure of detailed information on the evaluation of expenses and samples associated with professional activities and Continuing Medical Education (CME). The key pointers of UCMPMD 2024 are:
Monetary grants, gifts, and hospitality prohibited: The UCMPMD 2024 has strictly prohibited monetary grants, gifts, and hospitality by medical device companies to patients and medical professionals. This includes expensive meals, travel facilities, and hotel stays. This is to ensure the complete elimination of conflict of interest and decision-making in the purchase of medical devices, a process which should ideally be based on merit.
Prescribed marketing and counterclaims: The code also makes it mandatory for marketing claims regarding devices to be accurate and backed by evidence. This is to put an end to the risk of misleading claims.
Permitted Training, Research, and Continuing Medical Education (CME): On the one hand, the code prohibits personal benefits for healthcare professionals, but it allows research, training, and CME under strict conditions. CME events can only be executed by accredited institutions, and foreign training programmes must seek approval from the Department of Pharmaceuticals beforehand. They must also adhere to ethical guidelines and seek approvals from authorities.
Penalties and enforcement: The code also lists the penalties for non-compliance, including expulsion from associations, suspension, corrective statements, and recommendations from government authorities. An appeals process is also in place to let dissatisfied parties seek redressal.
Compliance and oversight: The medical device associations will oversee compliance with the UCMPMD 2024 which will be responsible for the enforcement of the code within jurisdiction. Every association will form an Ethics Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (ECMPMD) to handle complaints and ensure adherence to the code. An apex committee in place led by the Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals will offer additional oversight.
The guidelines also mandated the establishment of an Ethics Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (ECMPMD) to ensure the disclosure of detailed information on the evaluation of expenses and samples associated with professional activities and Continuing Medical Education (CME). The key pointers of UCMPMD 2024 are: Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
