The Indian Medical Association has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding clarification over his purported claim that pharmaceutical companies bribe doctors with women, foreign trips and gadgets.
PM Modi, on 1 January, met the chiefs of top pharma companies, hospitals, and medical device makers and warned them to adhere strictly to marketing ethics, ThePrint reported.
This came after an independent report triggered concerns that medical representatives, who pitch products directly to doctors, bribe them with the aforementioned.
Release Details of Companies and Doctors Involved: IMA
IMA's letter, titled 'Deny or Prove or Apologise' asks the government to release the “details of the companies involved in supplying women to doctors”.
“Moreover, it is imperative on PMO now to release the names of doctors convicted or otherwise as well. The state medical councils should initiate appropriate action if the doctors have been convicted on moral turpitude,” it says.
“IMA, however, is skeptical about the Government being able to prove these allegations. If the surmise of the Prime Minister is based on unverified information, it is only appropriate that he apologises to the doctors of the country.”Indian Medical Association, in a letter to PM Modi
The letter goes on to say the government is using this as an excuse to “divert the attention from unresolved issues regarding the health of the people and medical education of the country”.
It also calls the Ayushman Bharat scheme a "non starter" and criticises the government for the state of medicine in India, "There is no new investment either in infrastructure or in Human Resources. Violence on Doctors and Hospitals has increased... Even ambulances are not safe."
Read the letter here:
Pharma Association Denies PM Modi’s Purported Remarks
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance has, however, denied media reports that PM Modi made the purported remarks warning firms against bribery, reports ANI.
“There was no discussion on alleged bribes being given by pharma companies to doctors as being reported in media. Meeting was constructive one where discussion was limited to initiatives to boost industry. News reports to contrary are baseless.”Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance to ANI
(With inputs from ThePrint)
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