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Pharma donors to electoral bonds also in the forefront of attacks to the field workers: Alleges FMRAI
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
April 27 , 2024
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The Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives' Association of India (FMRAI) has alleged that some of the pharma companies that have donated generously to the ruling party in the Centre through electoral bonds are also the ones which trample the rights of the field workers.
The editorial piece of the Federation's newsletter for the month of April on electoral bonds and its impact on medicine prices alleged connection between the electoral bonds and the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), 2024 being more liberal.
"Almost Rs. 400 crore of the total donations by the pharma sector have been done by 9 companies that belong to the top ten bracket. The 'quid pro quo' theory applies heavily here as these are the companies that have taken their pounds of flesh in the form of permission from the government to increase the prices of their medicines," said the Federation.
The Federation pointed out the allegations on donation from Aurobindo Pharma, whose director P Sarath Reddy was arrested in November, 2022 in the Delhi liquor case, purchasing bonds of Rs. 52 crore, on which 66 per cent of the bonds were directed towards the ruling party.
"It is therefore not surprising that the latest UCPMP 2024, which was aimed at preventing the unethical marketing practices of the pharma companies, is far more liberal in allowing freebies and sponsorships than the UCPMP 2014. The permission for many such activities has been given for ensuring more profits for the companies," said the editorial.
"The same companies that have donated so generously in the coffers of the ruling party are also the most vicious ones to trample the rights of the field workers. Over the last five years, especially post-Covid, many of these companies who purchased bonds have been in the forefront of attacks to the field workers and their unions and victimised the workers," it added.
It said that almost half of the total corporate bribing (> Rs. 12,700 crore) was received by the ruling party in the Centre and 60 per cent of the total corporate funding through these corporate bonds has gone to only two parties.
The pharma sector is a major revenue earner for the country and has gained a reputation for supplying quality drugs to the world. It alleged that the government, under the demands of the pharma industry lobby, has been allowing the price rise of all medicines continuously.
"Last year too, the government allowed the price rise of controlled medicines twice. Under the pressure of the pharma companies, the pricing of the medicines under DPCO (Drugs Prices Control Order) has now been linked with the Wholesale Price Index, meaning that there is practically no control of the government in the pricing of the medicines. In spite of continuous agitation of FMRAI to reduce prices of medicines, there were simply no responses from the government," it maintained.
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