PHM-Exch> Regarding unethical trade practices of doctors India

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Gopal Dabade drdabade at gmail.com

http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=54441&sectionid=

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*Healh Ministry backtracks on proposal for law to curb unethical trade
practices of doctors*


Although the Union health minister himself had asserted that the government
will bring a legislation to curb the unethical trade practices of doctors,
the Health Ministry has backtracked on the subject saying that it was not
taking up the matter with the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP).

There is no proposal at this stage to take up the matter with the DoP to
bring in a legislation to restrain pharma companies from such activities of
wooing the doctors and also to disclose payment made to them.


The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct and Ethics) Regulations,
2002 were amended by inserting a new Clause which states that a medical
practitioner shall not endorse any drug or product of the industry
publically. Any study conducted on the efficacy or otherwise of such
products shall be presented to and/or through appropriate scientific bodies
or published on appropriate scientific journals in a proper way, sources
said.


As the pharma department was also trying to restrain the companies from
enticing the doctors through an ethical code, there was demand from
different quarters that a comprehensive law should be in place. Though a
common code of conduct was prepared by the pharma companies after the
department took the initiative, it was stuck up after a section of the
industry stressed for a code of conduct with some legal tooth as voluntary
codes would not meet the purpose.


Some time back, the health minister himself announced the plan to frame a
legislation to curb the unethical practices of doctors. However, if the
latest reaction from the ministry sources is any indication, the ministry
will wait before going for a legislation as the MCI and the Indian Medical
Association have taken some measures to curb the practices and implement the
existing ethical codes stringently.
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