MAM
Doceree to let companies to advertise on its platforms for free amid Corona lockdown
MUMBAI: Coming to the aid of pharma, medical and healthcare companies amid coronavirus mayhem globally, Doceree, World’s first Ad Exchange for branded Healthcare Professional Marketing, has said it will allow companies to advertise on its platforms for free and help them reach out to doctors uninterruptedly, an initiative taken to support them when their crucial workforce of medical and sales representatives are locked indoors.
The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic upsurge followed by curfew, lockdown and ‘social distancing’ have almost put a pause in the lives of the people, posing serious challenges around. Despite putting sweat and blood round the clock to discover a vaccine or medicine for COVID-19 cure, medical scientists from across the world haven’t come out with flying colours yet.
Owing to strict ‘social distancing’, lockdown and stringent regulations coming up amidst COVID-19 scare for its prevention, pharma companies are unable to reach out to the doctors as their reps can’t get face time with them to provide them with the free flow of scientific information about the drugs. Neither can they organise CMEs that update physicians’ information domain.
Physicians need product information, KOL and Advisory Board content, services and support that reps provide. In such circumstances where there is a complete disconnect between the doctors and the pharma, a New York-based Pharma Ad-tech start-up Doceree (www.doceree.com) has extended its innovative wing, accelerating its launch in India as well as in the global market. It has created a digital Artificial (AI) based platform, which might be instrumental in bringing doctors and pharma together remotely despite Social Distancing and Lockdown.
“Of course, the outbreak of COVID-19 has been a sort of unexpected invasion over our personal and professional lives for several days and weeks. And the intensity of its ceaseless surge might prolong for a few months. In a situation where everything is locked in, HCPs can’t have the option to put themselves out of their duties. However, they need some support which they get routinely by the pharma companies. But the question is — how it could be done? Yes, this could be done through a technology-enabled remote working system that we call the digital medium,” says Dr Harshit Jain, Founder & CEO, Doceree.
He adds further, “We have developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technology that uses data segmentation & analytics and offer the power to deliver sequential content, to promote the behaviour change needed to take the HCPs down the conversion funnel. This technology also understands doctors’ behaviour, so that one can connect with them better. Hence, in the situation when social distancing has been turning out to be quint-essential to fight the COVID-19 pandemic out, this is the only technology left for the pharmaceutical companies to reach out to the physicians.”
Despite willing to provide credible scientific information about the drugs to the doctors, the pharma companies are unable to reach them out as the COVID-19 pandemic is pacing faster. In such a situation, the digital medium is the only way forward wherein Doceree has been doing a marvellous job, influencing the US Pharma marketing & advertising with its latest digital modules based on AI. This technology has the potential to bridge the gap between the pharma and the doctors, paving the way for the former to reach out to the latter.
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the specific module developed by the Doceree for the pharma companies that address the real problems they face in reaching out to the doctors has been largely superb. This innovative technology has been instrumental in bringing pharma companies back on track to reach out to the doctors in minimum resources with maximum credible scientific information. In India, more and more pharma companies are looking for the services provided by Doceree. Thus, digital medium singles out as the panacea for the prevailing problems as well as a new normal.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
