NEW DELHI – In a move set to significantly benefit the medical technology sector and healthcare professionals (HCPs), the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has amended the Uniform Code for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (UCMPMD), 2024. The latest circular, issued on April 30, 2026, fundamentally shifts the regulatory framework for overseas medical training from a restrictive, approval-based model to a transparent, disclosure-based system.
Eliminating the Approval Bottleneck
Previously, under the original 2024 code, medical device companies were prohibited from organizing training events in foreign locations unless they secured specific prior approval from the DoP at least three months in advance. This process was often criticized by industry bodies like the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) and the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI) for being cumbersome and causing critical delays in skill development.
The 2026 amendment entirely removes the requirement for prior government approval. Instead, the DoP has introduced a “self-regulatory” framework where the onus of compliance lies strictly with the companies and respective industry associations.
Key Changes in Training Protocols
The revised guidelines introduce several critical relaxations designed to keep Indian doctors at the forefront of global medical advancements:
- One-Month Disclosure: Companies now only need to share details of the training—including the list of participants, justification, and estimated expenditure—with their industry association at least one month in advance.
- Public Domain Requirements: The associations are mandated to place these disclosures in the public domain to ensure transparency and prevent unethical marketing practices.
- Foreign Training Exceptions: While the code maintains that events in foreign locations should “generally be avoided,” it now explicitly permits them for advanced clinical training or demonstrations by experts when the specific equipment or expertise is unavailable within India.
Alignment with Modern Standards
The amendments also seek to align the UCMPMD with the National Medical Commission (NMC) Regulations, 2023. In instances where the code is silent, the NMC’s professional conduct rules will prevail, ensuring a unified ethical standard for registered medical practitioners.
Industry experts have hailed the move as a “balanced approach” that supports domestic capacity building while acknowledging the necessity of global exposure in highly specialized medical fields. By reducing the “regulatory lead time,” MedTech firms can now plan overseas workshops more predictably, ensuring that Indian surgeons and specialists have timely access to the world’s most advanced diagnostic and surgical tools.
Accountability and Enforcement
Despite the easing of norms, the DoP has warned that companies remain responsible for adhering to the “letter and spirit” of the code. The enforcement will continue through the existing complaint and penalty framework, where the Ethics Committee for Marketing Practices in Medical Devices (ECMPMD) can recommend actions ranging from reprimands to the recovery of spent amounts in case of violations.
