Rs 1.91 crore Pharma Freebies case under review: NMC
Pharma Freebies
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is yet to take action against 30 doctors found guilty of accepting a foreign trip sponsored by pharma company AbbVie, as the matter is still "under consideration", as per a recent report by the Times of India.
Speaking to TOI, the new chairperson of NMC, Dr Abhijat Sheth, confirmed that the matters pending before the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of NMC could not be taken up.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) had last year received a complaint stating that the pharma company AbbVie provided travel tickets and hotel accommodations for extravagant pleasure trips under the guise of conferences (Aesthetics 86 Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress 2024), which took place from February 1 to 3, 2024, and from March 26 to 29, 2024, in Monaco and Paris, respectively, for 30 doctors connected to the medical aesthetics/anti-ageing products (Botox and Juvederm).
The total expense was reported to be Rs 1.91 crore, covering flights and hotel stays. Later, while investigating the issue, the Special Audit Committee of DoP found these allegations true.
Also Read: NMC Yet To Take Action Against 30 Doctors Named in Rs 1.91 Cr Freebie Case- RTI Response
Earlier, the DoP Committee reprimanded AbbVie Healthcare and requested that the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) evaluate M/S's tax liability. AbbVie Healthcare India Pvt Ltd along with 30 HCPs and take action in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 read with the subordinate circulars issued in this regard.
Apart from this, the Committee had also asked NMC to take action against the 30 offending doctors as per Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
Even though the names of these doctors were sent in July to the Commission for action, NMC Chairperson Dr. Sheth has confirmed that the pending issues before the NMC Ethics Board could not be taken up. In the case of EMRB, four out of five posts are lying vacant, including that of its president.
Speaking to the Times of India, Dr. Sheth informed that NMC was considering setting up a temporary board of NMC members to take up the matters pending before the EMRB. He said, "Since this (the charge against 30 doctors) is a serious matter, it will be taken up as soon as possible."
"Govt has reassured us that the vacant posts will be filled up soon. Until then, there is little we can do. We are aware that a lot of matters are pending," Dr. Sheth said.
NMC Ethics Board currently has only one part-time member, Dr. Surinder Pal Singh, from the Punjab Medical Council, and he was appointed back in July.
Meanwhile, the list of 30 doctors, who were found guilty of accepting pharma freebies, has not been made public by the Department of Pharmaceuticals. Despite the DoP Apex Committee stating in December 2024 that NMC should be requested to take up action against the guilty doctors, the Department had failed to forward the names of the doctors to NMC till July.
Also Read: Who were the 30 doctors? RTI sparks questions over secrecy in Pharma Freebies case
