NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, Oct. 8 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to set up a three-member committee to examine how pharmaceutical companies market medicines to doctors, and recommend whether the industry needs a statutory framework to regulate such practices.

The move could pave the way for legally enforceable rules governing freebies, gifts and other benefits offered to doctors by drugmakers, an issue that has long been governed primarily by industry codes.

"The committee will consider the suggestions and representations and give its recommendations to the Union. The matter is directed to be listed on 29 January for consideration of compliance affidavit by the Union," the top court said.

A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and...