The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has reprimanded AbbVie Healthcare India Private Ltd., a subsidiary of U.S.-based AbbVie Inc., for sponsoring international travel for doctors in violation of India’s pharmaceutical marketing norms.
वर्ष 2024 में एक बड़ी Pharma कंपनी 30 डॉक्टरों को ₹2 करोड़ खर्च करके Paris घुमाने लेके गई।
ये कंपनियाँ डॉक्टर्स-अस्पतालों को तरह तरह के लालच देने का प्रयास करते हैं और बदले में अपनी दवाएँ-इंजेक्शन मरीज़ों को लिखने के लिए बोलते हैं
ये सरासर ग़लत है और ग़ैर-क़ानूनी है। संसद में… pic.twitter.com/oEjlo2B1kj
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) February 5, 2026According to an order issued earlier this week, the Apex Committee for Pharma Marketing Practices found that the company spent nearly ₹1.91 crore to fund foreign trips for 30 doctors, allegedly under the guise of professional development. Such sponsorships are expressly prohibited under the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), 2024, which bars pharmaceutical companies from offering travel, hospitality, or similar inducements to healthcare professionals.
The case surfaced following an anonymous complaint, supported by documentary evidence, pointing to unethical marketing practices. After reviewing the materials, the committee concluded that the expenditure constituted a clear breach of the code.
