Civil Society Group Raises Conflict of Interest Concerns Over Expert Committee on UCPMP

A civil society collective has raised formal objections regarding the composition of the newly announced three-member expert committee tasked with examining ethical codes in pharmaceutical marketing. The Working Group on Access to Medicines and Treatments has asked the Department of Pharmaceuticals to recast the panel, pointing to a potential conflict of interest involving one of its members.

The Centre recently formed the committee following directives from the Supreme Court. The panel's primary mandate is to examine the regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical practices and make recommendations on the voluntary Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024. The stated objective of the committee is to strengthen ethical standards and promote access to affordable healthcare.

However, the working group has flagged the inclusion of Dr. Naresh Trehan, citing his financial interests and leadership association with the Medanta hospital group. In a public note, the civil society organization stated that these ties could give rise to a conflict of interest, potentially compromising the independence and impartiality required for the committee's deliberations.

"Given the committee’s mandate, it is essential that the deliberations and recommendations remain independent and are guided solely by public health considerations," the group noted, emphasizing the need to safeguard the integrity of the panel.

To support its stance, the group referenced past findings, including 2018 reports by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). According to the group, the NPPA had previously examined bills from four hospitals in the Delhi-NCR region and identified instances of overcharging, which it described as an unethical practice involving collaboration with pharmaceutical companies.

Additionally, the civil society group pointed to recent evaluations by state drug regulatory authorities in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, alongside recent Supreme Court proceedings, which have highlighted issues related to exorbitant markups in hospital pricing.

While acknowledging the importance of gathering inputs from multiple stakeholders, the organization maintained that including a member with financial interests in private healthcare institutions undermines the transparency and public-interest basis of the committee. A media query sent to Medanta for Dr. Trehan’s perspective on the matter has not yet received a response.

The working group has urged the Department of Pharmaceuticals to replace Dr. Trehan with an individual free of such conflicts to ensure that the committee fulfills the intended scope and directions outlined by the Supreme Court.

"Regulatory frameworks and oversight committees must maintain absolute independence and transparency to retain public trust, particularly in sensitive sectors like healthcare and pharmaceuticals. When policy-shaping panels include members with active commercial interests in related fields, it naturally invites scrutiny from civil society. Ensuring a clear separation between regulators and stakeholders is critical for the credibility and fairness of any institutional governance." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes