Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has directed all manufacturers and importers of drugs to ensure that the manufacture, sale, distribution, and promotion of drug products strictly comply with all applicable ethical and regulatory norms.

In an advisory, DGHS has said that pharmaceutical companies engaged in any promotional activity, including awareness campaigns, that functions as a surrogate advertisement for prescription-only drugs shall be viewed seriously and may be treated as irrational or misleading marketing practice. DGHS has also asked manufacturers to strictly conform to the approved indications, conditions of permission, labelling requirements, and other statutory provisions. It further clarified that prescription drugs, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, are now required to be prescribed by Registered Medical Practitioners as per approved indications and conditions of marketing authorization.