Rs 1.9 crore pharma freebies case- Govt sent names of 27 doctors to NMC despite 30 being found 'guilty': Report
Pharma Freebies
New Delhi: Even though altogether 30 doctors were found guilty of accepting a foreign trip worth Rs 1.9 crore sponsored by pharma company AbbVie, the Government has sent only 27 names to the National Medical Commission (NMC) for taking action, the TOI has reported.
Confirming this, NMC Chairperson Dr. Abhijat Sheth told TOI that the Apex Medical Commission received the names of 27 doctors in September 2025. Reportedly, subsequently, these names were forwarded to the nine State Medical Councils, where those doctors were registered "for inquiry and appropriate action".
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 the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
Commenting on this, Dr. Sheth told the Times of India that under the NMC Act, the concerned State Medical Councils have the jurisdiction to inquire into the complaints about ethical or professional misconduct against doctors. However, he did not specify the names of the nine States where these doctors are registered.
As per the Daily, both the pharmaceutical department and NMC have refused to reveal the names of doctors involved. However, information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application to the PMO revealed that the Kerala State Medical Council had received the list on December 16, 2025. However, the Council clarified that only one doctor on the list was from Kerala.
Speaking to TOI, the Registrar of KSMC said that an explanation had been sought from the concerned doctor, and the matter is under process.
It has been more than five months since the Council received the name of the Kerala-based doctor involved in the matter. Meanwhile, under the NMC Act, if a State Medical Council fails to decide a complaint within six months, NMC can refer it to its own ethics committee.
When commenting on the possibility of NMC taking over the matter in case the State Medical Councils failed to act, NMC Chairperson Dr. Sheth said that the Commission would “act firmly... as appropriate”.
Also Read: NMC delays action against 30 doctors accused in pharma freebies case
