Against bribery, but sponsoring training for doctors should be allowed: Daara Patel
The Medical Council of India (MCI) had recently summoned 326 doctors accused of taking hefty bribes in the form of cash, flats, junkets, and cars from some pharmaceutical companies to prescribe their medicines. Of the 326 doctors, ten are from Maharashtra, who were summoned to the MCI office in New Delhi. After this incident, the MCI sent pharmacy companies a code of ethics that need to be followed while dealing with doctors. Daara Patel, secretary general, Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), spoke to dna's Santosh Andhale on the issue:
Q) What is your take on the MCI's move?A) I would not like to comment on that because we haven't gotten any kind of communication from the MCI in that regard. We have never been in favour of offering gifts to doctors for prescribing drugs of a specific company. We never encourage such kinds of practices in our business.Q) Have you received the code of ethics?A) Yes, it is a uniform code of conduct for the industry. The code will be voluntary to start with, and it will be implemented from January 1. But we are going to write to the government that in some cases, for example, a product launch, we should be allowed to sponsor doctors imparting knowledge in seminars regarding a specific subject which will be helpful to society. We are only sponsoring doctors for training or workshops. No gift are sent to the doctor or his/her family. A code of ethics should be balanced to suit our industry.Q) But isn't it well-known that pharmaceutical companies offer gift to doctors?A) I don't agree. To remember a product or a company name they may offer some kind of token like pens, pads or calendars. But I don't know of any company offering trips, cash or cars.Q) What kind of measures have you to taken to avoid such cases?A) We are a voluntary organisation and almost 800 pharmaceuticals companies affiliated with our association. We don't want any company to indulge in such practices and give us a bad name. We can't take any action against them, but through workshops and seminars we can definitely sensitize them.