DoP Forms High-Level Committee on Pharma Marketing Practices
The Department of Pharmaceuticals has formed a high-level three-member committee to review India's pharmaceutical marketing practices and recommend stronger measures to curb unethical practices. The panel is chaired by Dr. M. Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog.
What happened
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has constituted a three-member high-level committee to comprehensively review pharmaceutical marketing practices in India. The official order for the formation of the committee was issued on October 22, 2026, followed by a Press Information Bureau release on October 23, 2026.
The primary objective of the committee is to recommend stronger measures to curb unethical practices within the sector. The panel's mandate includes examining existing regulatory frameworks governing promotional activities, company interactions with healthcare professionals, and evaluating the efficacy of current monitoring and enforcement systems to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
The committee is chaired by Dr. M. Srinivas, Member of NITI Aayog and former Director of AIIMS Delhi. The other two appointed members are Smt. Preeti Sudan, Former Union Health Secretary, and Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director of Medanta. Secretarial assistance to the committee will be provided by the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
This high-level panel was constituted following directions issued by the Supreme Court of India in a writ petition filed by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives' Associations of India (FMRAI). The committee has been mandated to submit its recommendations to the Department of Pharmaceuticals within two months from the date of its first meeting after consulting relevant stakeholders and domain experts.
Important dates
| Official Order Date | 22 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| PIB Release Date | 23 October 2026 |
📌 Static GK links
- Chairperson of the committee: Dr. M. Srinivas
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
- Committee Members: Preeti Sudan and Dr. Naresh Trehan
- Previous regulatory framework: Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2015 and UCPMP 2024
What candidates should do
- Note down the names of the chairperson and members for upcoming competitive examinations.
- Revise the parent ministry for the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
- Understand the background of UCPMP guidelines and Supreme Court involvement in regulatory matters concerning medical practices.
PrepZen analysis
The formation of this committee marks a significant regulatory step in addressing commercial malpractices and unethical promotions within India's healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. For competitive exam aspirants, questions from this topic will likely test direct factual recall regarding the chairperson, members, ministry, and judicial context. Understanding the evolution from voluntary self-regulation under UCPMP 2015 to the current administrative frameworks is vital for descriptive papers and General Awareness sections in UPSC and banking exams.
Practice questions
Q1. Who is the chairperson of the three-member committee formed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to review pharma marketing practices?
Q2. The Department of Pharmaceuticals functions under which Union Ministry?
Purpose: review India's pharmaceutical marketing practices.
Aim: recommend stronger measures to curb unethical practices.
Chairperson: Dr. M. Srinivas, Member, NITI Aayog.
Members include Preeti Sudan and Dr. Naresh Trehan.
🎯 Key Point: Dr. M. Srinivas chairs committee on pharmaceutical marketing practices.
FAQs
Which body formed the committee on pharmaceutical marketing practices?
The committee was formed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Who are the members of the three-member committee?
The committee is chaired by Dr. M. Srinivas, with Smt. Preeti Sudan and Dr. Naresh Trehan serving as members.
What is the primary objective of this committee?
The purpose is to review India's pharmaceutical marketing practices and recommend stronger measures to curb unethical promotional practices and company interactions with healthcare professionals.
What triggered the formation of this committee?
The panel was constituted following directions issued by the Supreme Court of India in a writ petition filed by the Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives' Associations of India (FMRAI).
Sources and references
- docthub.com (news.docthub.com)
- aninews.in (www.aninews.in)
- indiatimes.com (pharma.economictimes.indiatimes.com)
- business-standard.com (www.business-standard.com)
Prepared by PrepZen for exam preparation. Consult the linked sources for original announcements and current details. Corrections policy. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
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