India, one of the world's largest markets for pharmaceuticals, is drawing up its first set of marketing rules for drugmakers, restricting gifts and trips offered to doctors and pharmacists to 1,000 rupees ($15), according to a draft proposal seen by Reuters. Currently, India has only a voluntary marketing code that critics say is ineffective. "In India, corruption and bribery of doctors is widespread," said Samiran Nundy, one of India's leading gastrointestinal surgeons. "It's great that marketing rules are coming into place, but there are a huge number of regulations in India that are not enforced," he added. Pharmaceutical marketing practices have long been a subject of controversy globally.

Source: CBC News August 02, 2017 14:20 UTC