Govt may set up body to monitor pharma cos: Sources

Excerpts from Reporter's Diary on CNBC-TV18 Watch the full show »

To ensure that pharmaceutical firms adhere to the drug marketing code floated by the department of pharmaceutical last year, the government is considering setting up a separate overseeing body for this purpose. CNBC-TV18 learns, the proposed new authority is likely to be headed by a senior jurist which would oversee the activities of both pharmaceutical companies and doctors.

The idea was discussed in a meeting on Wednesday between the government and pharma companies. However, sources say that the moot issue of whether the guidelines would be made mandatory or not still remained unresolved as the industry continued to oppose it tooth and nail.