Rs 1.9 crore Pharma freebies case- Gujarat Medical Council suspends 3 dermatologists
Doctor suspended
Ahmedabad: Taking action in the Rs 1.9 crore Pharma freebies case, the Gujarat Medical Council has suspended the medical registrations of three dermatologists from the State for 13 months for their alleged misconduct in this connection.
Among these three dermatologists, two doctors are from Surat, and one hails from Ahmedabad, TOI has reported. They were among the 30 healthcare professionals from nine States who who were found guilty of accepting a foreign trip worth Rs 1.9 crore to Paris and Monaco, sponsored by pharma company AbbVie.
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 to be true.
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.
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, the Gujarat Medical Council has now taken disciplinary action against three doctors in this connection. These doctors are Dr Sakhiya and Dr Shah from Surat, and Dr Patel from Ahmedabad.
In its order, GMC stated, "Such conduct on part of these medical practitioners is a clear breach of clause/ paragraph 6.8 of the Regulations, 2002."
Sources at the Council told TOI that these three doctors were given time to respond to the show-cause notices as they submitted documents and information on January 8 and June 29.
Citing The Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices of 2014 and 2024, The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations 2002, and resolutions of the general body and executive committee of GMC, the order dated June 30 stated, "During the period of removal, the practitioners shall not practice medicine in any form within the state of Gujarat; the practitioners shall not claim any rights or privileges arising out of registration under the Act. Upon expiry of the aforesaid period, restoration of the name in the register shall be subject to compliance with the provisions of the Act and Rules, if any." It further mentioned that the doctors can appeal in accordance with the NMC provisions.
It is one of the few instances in which doctors have faced punitive action for industry-sponsored junkets, sources at the Council said.
Even though a total of 30 doctors were found guilty, the Government had sent 27 names to the National Medical Commission (NMC) for taking action. Information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Kerala-based ophthalmologist and a health activist, Dr. KV Babu, revealed that of these 27 doctors, a total of 11 doctors are from Maharashtra, three each are from Gujarat and Telangana, two each from Punjab, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Delhi, and one each from Assam and Kerala.
The State Medical Councils of these nine States were sent the names of these doctors on December 15, 2025, for holding an enquiry and "award such punishment as deemed necessary".
On May 26, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the Apex Medical Commission sent a reminder in this regard to the State Medical Councils of Assam, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and West Bengal.
Under the NMC Act, if a State Medical Council fails to decide a complaint within six months, the NMC can refer it to its own ethics committee.
Earlier, while commenting on the possibility of NMC taking over the matter in case the State Medical Councils failed to act, NMC Chairperson Dr. Abhijat Sheth had said that the Commission would “act firmly... as appropriate”.
