Medical representatives offering cash to boost sales, says chemists body

Industry sources point out that cash offers to distributors is a common practice

A chemists association from Maharashtra has alleged that medical representatives are offering cash to distributors and wholesalers to push sales.

In a letter to all the marketing heads of pharmaceutical companies earlier in the week, the Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association (MSCDA) has demand an end to this malpractice. The association's letter does not name any company and does not specify amounts being offered to distributors.

The letter brings to fore unethical marketing practices by pharmaceutical companies and comes as the proposed government rules on marketing practices hangs fire. In its draft code in 2014 the department of pharmaceuticals