Civil society group raises concerns over composition of expert committee on UCPMP

A day after the Centre announced its three-member committee to look into the ethical code on pharmaceutical marketing, the Working Group on Access to Medicines and Treatments has raised concerns about the composition of this expert group.

The group pointed to the inclusion of Dr Naresh Trehan in the expert committee as a potential conflict of interest, given his association with private hospital group Medanta. The group has asked the Department of Pharmaceuticals to recast the committee with a member without a conflict of interest.

As directed by the Supreme Court, the expert committee is to examine the regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical marketing practices and make recommendations on the voluntary Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024, a note from the civil society group said, adding, the committee’s mandate is to strengthen ethical practices and promote access to affordable healthcare.

Against that backdrop, it said, “We are concerned that Dr Trehan’s’s inclusion in the committee owing to his financial interests and association with the Medanta Group may give rise to a potential conflict of interest. Given the committee’s mandate it is essential that the deliberations and recommendations remain independent and are guided solely by public health considerations. Our concern is related to the need to safeguard the committee’s independence and impartiality.” A query was sent by businessline to Medanta for Dr Trehan’s view on the issue – a response is awaited.   

Pointing to reports in 2018, the group alleged that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) had examined bills of four hospitals in Delhi / NCR and identified “instances of overcharging, an unethical practice in collaboration with pharmaceutical company, by these hospitals,” they said.

Recent Supreme Court proceedings, as well as evaluations by state drug regulatory authorities in Maharashtra, UP and Karnataka, have also revealed the practice of exorbitant markups in hospital pricing, it added.

“In view of these concerns, we urge the Department of Pharmaceuticals to reconstitute the committee by replacing Dr Trehan with a member who is free of conflict of interest, thereby safeguarding the committee’s integrity and independence.”

While inputs from multiple stakeholders is important, the group said, its concern involves “inclusion of a member whose financial interests give rise to a conflict of interest. It is necessary to ensure that the committee’s recommendations are impartial and transparent, and have a public interest basis.” A possible conflict of interest will undermine the independence of the committee and defeat the very purpose of the Supreme Court’s directions, it added.

Published on October 24, 2026