Entry Of PCDs In CIPMMA Will Lead To Corruption: SA Manikantan

Chennai, 10 March 2021:

Even as the dispute between two factions of the Consortium of Indian Pharmaceutical Marketers and Manufacturers Associations (CIPMMA) over membership for propaganda-cum-distributors (PCDs) in the consortium is continuing without settlement, a leading marketing company leader in Chennai has opined that it is dangerous to allow PCDs into the association of marketing companies.

S A Manikantan, co-founder and managing director of the Grandix Pharma, a marketing and manufacturing company based in Chennai, has said that inclusion of PCDs into CIPMMA will lead to corruption, subsequently they will ask for compromise on the quality of products. Such things cannot be permitted in the pharma marketing sector as it will affect the health of the people.

He said he is ready to offer to play the role of a mediator between the official state committee and the splinter group in Chennai to resolve the issue over membership for PCDs. Further, Manikantan wanted the office-bearers of the association to understand the difference between an enterprise and a PCD. According to him, the PCD is working for personal benefit, but an enterprise with huge investment is working for a large number of people.

“CIPMMA is formed for the marketing companies and not for the PCD companies. If the PCDs are allowed to become members of the association, it will lead to corruption and more and more compromise has to be made on quality aspects which we cannot accept. So they should be kept away from the marketing companies fold. Moreover, CIPMMA is a body of marketing companies. Now the office-bearers of CIPMMA should discourage the PCDS from becoming members,” said Manikantan.

While talking to Pharmabiz, he said he wants to take CIPMMA all over the country and establish its units wherever marketing companies are large in number. As a first step, Manikantan will bring the two factions into a common platform and discuss the issues to patch up the internal rift within the organization. He held the first round of talks with Kannan and with Panneerselvam the other day.

In Tamil Nadu, the pharmaceutical products of various manufacturing companies are marketed everywhere by the CIPMMA members who are licensed to promote specific brands. The manufacturing companies have appointed PCDs to promote their brands. Some of the marketers who are the office-bearers of the CIPMMA gave membership to their PCDs to establish majority in the organization. A group led by A Kannan in Chennai has objected this move of the office-bearers in the general body, but did not succeed to win over. He wanted the general body to oust the PCDs, but he was expelled from the primary membership. This has led the association to split apart.

When contacted Kannan who mounted rebellion against the unlawful activities in the association, said he is working to form a new outfit for marketers in Tamil Nadu and its official inauguration will be held shortly. However, he welcomed the initiative of SA Manikantan to interfere in the matter of conflicts between the traders.

Panneerselvam, the apex committee member of CIPMMA, said any move for a dialogue between the two factions will be welcomed by the association.

Meanwhile, the state committee has formed new district committee for the capital district and office-bearers were elected. M Sivakumar of Elite Lifecare is the new president of Chennai CIPMMA. Dr. Vignesh from Henlam Pharma is the secretary and K Sreenivasan from Anav Pharmaceuticals will act as the treasurer. M Jayachandran, CERAS Pharma has been elected as the zonal secretary. State president Karunai Kadal was also present in the meeting.

When asked about the membership of PCDs, Panneerselvam asserted that the PCDs who have minimum one brand cannot be avoided from giving membership of the association. Pharmabiz