Senior Correspondent
NewsBits.in
BHOPAL: Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India (JSA India) – the people’s health movement - has written to the Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, raising concerns over the composition of the committee constituted to examine the regulatory framework governing pharmaceutical marketing practices.
The letter sent to the union secretary on October 26 refers to the order of the department dated October 22, 2026.
A note said that the JSA India believes that the committee's present composition is inadequate to address unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices effectively.
It has demanded an independent, transparent and conflict-free committee with representation from public-health and health-rights organisations, pharmacology and medical ethics experts, and individuals experienced in unethical clinical trials, pharmaceutical industry irregularities, and violations of medical ethics.
The organisation has also called for transparent selection criteria, safeguards against conflicts of interest, and meaningful stakeholder participation.
It
has urged the exclusion of industry-linked persons whose interests could
compromise their independence and raised concerns about potential institutional
conflicts of interest involving serving or former government officials.
JSA India has requested the Department to reconsider the committee's composition and ensure that its functioning is guided by independence, accountability, and the public interest.
