Pharma-doc nexus continues at Govt Rajindra Hospital

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, October 15

The alleged nexus between government doctors and pharmaceuticals companies has once again come to the fore at the Government Rajindra Hospital.

Setting aside the directions issued by the hospital authorities, senior doctors have continuously been engaging medical representatives (MR) during the OPD hours.

Today, a senior doctor of the Medicine Department was seen engaging with an MR of pharmaceutical companies during the OPD hours, a time which is meant only to treat patients.

In an investigation by The Tribune, seniors doctors of the Medicine Department, including the Head of the Department, was seen engaging with the MR. A few doctors even agreed to the recommendation of the MR and obliged him by brazenly prescribing the recommended medicine then and there.

While interacting with the MR in his OPD room, a senior doctor was heard saying, “I have already been prescribing the medicines guided by you (MR).”

MRs, by their visits for the promotion of their medicines, cajole the doctors into getting their respective brands to be prescribed by them (doctors). To oblige the prominent brands, medics prescribe costly medicines, thereby, indirectly serving the interests of the pharmaceutical companies. But it is the poor patients who have to bear the brunt of the expensive prescriptions by these doctors.

In June this year, acting on The Tribune report, the authorities had banned the entry of MRs during the OPD hours. However, some of the doctors continued their unethical practice.

Dr Harjinder Singh, Principal of Government Medical College (GMC), is said to have once again issued fresh directions to the practitioners to refrain them from engaging MRs during the OPD hours.

According to the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, a medical practitioner shall not endorse any drug or product of the industry publically.

Meanwhile, Dr Harjinder Singh said, “I have again issued directions to the persons concerned. No unethical practice will be allowed at the hospital. I will take strict action if there is any such violation.”

DK Tiwari, principal secretary, research and medical education, said, “I will ask the GMC principal to submit a report on the matter at the earliest.”

What Medical Council Regulations say

According to the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, doctors dealing with pharmaceutical and allied healthcare industry shall always ensure that there shall never be any compromise either with his/her own professional autonomy and/or with the autonomy and freedom of the medical institution 

In April, 2017, the MCI had directed doctors in the country to prescribe medicines without brand names to ensure that patients have access to low-cost generic medicines with salt names