No discussion on uniform code for pharmaceutical marketing practices in meeting with PM Modi: IPA

NEW DELHI: Industry body Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) on Wednesday said there was no discussion on 'uniform code for pharmaceutical marketing practices' in the meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the healthcare industry on January 1.
The meeting was called to discuss future road map for growth of the healthcare industry, the IPA said in a statement.
The focus of the discussion was to promote research and development, build innovation ecosystem, improve access to high-quality medicine and strengthen global competitiveness of the industry, it added.
The purpose was to take the industry to the next level and leverage opportunities going forward in the pharmaceutical sector besides discussing growth opportunities in the Medtech and hospital sector, IPA said.

"There was no discussion on uniform code for pharmaceutical marketing practices in the meeting," it added.
The industry body was reacting to media reports that said the Prime Minister had warned India's top pharmaceutical companies to strictly adhere to marketing ethics, and not to bribe doctors with women, foreign trips and gadgets.
The meeting was attended by leading figures such as Satish Reddy from Dr Reddy's, Ajay Piramal from Piramal Group, Pankaj Patel from Cadila Healthcare, Dilip Shanghvi from Sun Pharma, Dr Habil Khorakiwala from Wockhardt and Shobana Kamineni from Apollo Hospitals Group, the statement said.
In a separate statement, the Delhi Medical Association (DMA) condemned the Indian Medical Association (IMA) for reportedly demanding that PM Modi must "prove" charges against the doctors or "apologise".
The DMA slammed the national medical body for "unnecessarily" criticizing PM Modi and cited the clarification from IPA that no such discussion took place during the meeting.
"The statement issued by Association of Pharmaceutical Companies has clarified that no such discussion took place at all in meeting. It is very deplorable that few IMA office-bearers for their political compulsions are carrying out a defamatory campaign against our Hon'ble PM which is against the national interest," DMA office-bearers and past presidents said in a statement.
The statement added that PM Modi has held various discussions with industry leaders on the steps needed to boost the healthcare sector in the country.
It further applauded the government for reducing prices of various drugs and stents as well as for its flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme.