KARACHI: In an attempt to ensure fair practice and transparency in pharmaceutical marketing, the Drug Regulatory Authority has introduced the ‘Ethical Marketing to Healthcare Professionals Rules, 2021’ on November 17, said SRO 1472 (1).
According to the new law, the pharma companies shall not provide gifts to individual beneficiary healthcare professionals in any shape; companies shall not provide, organise or pay for recreational or entertainment activities for healthcare professionals, including but not limited to tours, cultural and artistic activities.
“Where services are performed by a healthcare professional for or on behalf of a company, there must be a written agreement setting out, inter alia, the purpose of the interaction, the services to be performed, the method for reimbursement of expenses as well as the remuneration to be paid by the company,” it added.
The statement added that activities envisaged under any agreement must be substantiated and evidenced by activity reports. The adequate documentation such as the agreement, related reports, invoices etc. must be retained by the company for a period of five years to support the need for, and materiality of the services as well as the reasonableness of the remuneration paid.”
Read more: DRAP issues notification for hike in prices of 94 life-saving drugs
To ascertain breach of these rules, the authority shall have the power to carry out a financial audit of any healthcare industry, either itself or through any external auditor appointed for the purpose under the prevailing laws.
With the effect of the new laws, each company shall provide a detailed summary of all expenditures incurred on institutions or healthcare professionals on account of marketing, honoraria, travel, subsistence expenses, grants and any other related financial transaction to the relevant tax authorities as well as to the Authority on annual basis as per Schedule. This summary shall include the full name, national tax number and CNIC numbers of all individuals who have benefited from such support.
