Who were the 30 doctors? RTI sparks questions over secrecy in Pharma Freebies case
Pharma Freebies
New Delhi: Months have passed since the Apex Committee for Pharma Marketing Practices (ACPMP) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) reprimanded AbbVie Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. for violating the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) by sponsoring foreign trips worth Rs 1.91 crore for 30 doctors. Meanwhile, despite the issue being referred for further action, the names of the doctors have not been made public or shared with the National Medical Commission (NMC), raising questions about the progress of the case.
The DoP has refused to share the names of those 30 doctors, who were to face action from the National Medical Commission (NMC) for accepting pharma freebies in the form of those trips to Monaco and Paris.
A Right to Information (RTI) application was filed in this regard by Kerala-based Health Activist Dr. KV Babu on 28.12.2024. Filing the RTI, Dr. Babu had sought the names of 30 doctors whose names were forwarded to the NMC Chairman based on the order dated 23.12.2024 by the Apex Committee.
After five months, DoP finally responded to the RTI, stating, "The requested information involves the disclosure of names or personal information and also is not of public interest and is accordingly not provided as per Section 8(1)(j) of RTI Act."
Dr. Babu, on May 1, 2025, had also filed an RTI with the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking the details of 30 doctors. However, EMRB responded by informing that it did not receive the list of thirty doctors till May 8th. "List of 30 doctors is yet to be received by this commission," the NMC Ethics Board said in the RTI reply dated 08.05.2025.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the issue, Dr. Babu said, "Though the Apex Committee took the decision on 23/12/24, the EMRB did not receive any communication till May 8th So also the DoP refused to share even the names of the thirty doctors in a reply after five months. The only punishment so far is "reprimanding the Pharma company"!"
"Why is the DoP hesitant to send the names to NMC & disclose the names? Any second thoughts?" he questioned.
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.
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.
MCI 2002 Regulations restrict doctors from accepting pharma freebies as per the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
These regulations specify that:
"A medical practitioner shall not accept any travel facility inside the country or outside, including rail, air, ship , cruise tickets, paid vacations etc. from any pharmaceutical or allied healthcare industry or their representatives for self and family members for vacation or for attending conferences, seminars, workshops, CME programme etc as a delegate."
However, till now, no action has been taken against the offending doctors and NMC has not even received the names of those 30 healthcare professionals till 08.05.2025.
Also Read: NMC Yet To Take Action Against 30 Doctors Named in Rs 1.91 Cr Freebie Case- RTI Response
