A day after dna reported likely action against about 320 doctors by the Medical Council of India for allegedly accepting kickbacks from pharma companies, the Maharashtra Medical Council has decided to send a note of caution to doctors registered with it.
The MMC will direct all doctors practising allopath in the state to keep away from malpractices and expose drug marketing firms resorting to unethical means for business gains. It will ask the Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra chapter) to issue a similar missive to its doctors.
MMC is a statutory body having powers to suspend a doctor's license if s/he is found guilty of malpractice. Only those doctors registered with the MMC can practise in Maharashtra. Over 70,000 doctors are registered with the MMC.
The health body also plans to write to the union ministries of chemical and fertilizers, and health, demanding a code of ethics for pharma companies on the lines of guidelines outlined for medical practitioners.
On December 17, dna had reported that 326 doctors from across the country were under the scanner of the Medical Council of India for allegedly accepting inducements in the form cash, flats, junkets, or cars from some pharmaceutical companies to promote their products.
The MCI had on Tuesday summoned 150 of them, including ten from Maharashtra, to Delhi in connection with its probe. The MCI, however, is yet to reveal the names of the 326 doctors.
"Accepting kickbacks from pharma companies is a serious crime. These firm recover the money spent on doctors by hiking the prices of their medicines. It means patients are the ultimate sufferers. Apart from sending directives to doctors, we will also appeal the centre to bring in a code of ethics for pharma firms," said Dr Shivkumar Utture, executive committee member of MMC.
According to the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) (Amendment) Regulations, 2009, doctors are prohibited from accepting gifts, travel facility or hospitality, from any pharmaceutical company or the health-care industry.
Dr Sangeeta Pikale, president of Association of Medical Consultant, said, "MMC and MCI should take strict action against all those doctors who are indulging in such malpractices."
For past many years, activists have been expressing concern over the nexus between doctors and pharmaceutical companies.
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