Pharma Commissions to Doctors: HC directs Govt, MCI to take action against those accepting gifts

Madras: Asserting that a cartel of doctors, pharma firms and diagnostic labs are fleecing patients in the country, the Madras High Court on January 8 took notice of the practice of providing 'commissions' to doctors for promoting and prescribing their drugs.

The court directed the Union health ministry, chemical and fertilizers ministry, National pharmaceutical pricing authority and Medical Council of India to explain as to the action taken against doctors for violating the code of conduct and accepting gifts, hospitality, cash or monetary grant from pharmaceutical firms and allied health sector Industries in the past 5 years.

Appalled over the submissions, the court said "It is clear that even though accepting such commissions is prohibited under law, pharmaceutical companies are still promoting their drugs by providing gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or monetary grant to doctors.

It is also proved that drugs are overpriced illegally by the companies. It is shocking and surprising to note that the company claimed deduction from income tax for the amount spent towards sale promotion expenses as well as for licences and taxes." The bench then directed the authorities to answer a series of questions including the list of doctors who were paid by Fourrts, number of doctors prosecuted for violating the rule and accepting such gifts from 2009.

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The court also wanted authorities to answer as to the number of pharmaceutical firms that have been prosecuted for the regulation of the drug pricing authority, the number of pharma companies who have claimed tax deductions under 'sale and promotions' head, complaints received on overpricing of drugs and amount recovered from pharma firms for overpricing. It has also directed the Union government to inform by January 20 as to when a separate ministry for pharma and medical devices would be established as stated by the ministry of chemicals in February 2018.

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