Dominican Republic proposes law banning pharmaceutical incentives for doctors

The Dominican government has submitted a bill to the Chamber of Deputies to overhaul the country’s sanitary regulatory framework. The proposed legislation prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering incentives, gifts, or benefits to medical professionals in exchange for prescribing, dispensing, or promoting specific medications.

Key provisions of the bill include the creation of the General Directorate of Medicines, Food, and Sanitary Products (Digemaps) as a decentralized entity. The law classifies the offering of incentives to prescribing professionals as a very serious infraction. Penalties for such violations include fines of up to 400 minimum wages, the cancellation of sanitary registrations, and the permanent closure of establishments.

Other sanctions outlined in the proposal include fines for minor infractions (1 to 20 minimum wages) and serious infractions (21 to 100 minimum wages) related to expired permits or improper labeling. The bill also grants Digemaps the authority to monitor and control regulated products promoted via digital channels and social media, including the power to demand the immediate removal of non-compliant advertisements.