Costly gifts could put doctors out of practice for up to a year

In an attempt to tackle the problem of doctors accepting expensive gifts from the pharmaceutical and health care industry...

In an attempt to tackle the problem of doctors accepting expensive gifts from the pharmaceutical and health care industry,the Medical Council of India (MCI) has decided to propose that doctors found accepting costly gifts not be allowed to practise for a year and more. The proposal will be sent to the Union Health Ministry for approval this week.

Having decided that a blanket ban on gifts,as proposed earlier,would not work,it is proposed that changes be made in the professional conduct,etiquette and ethics regulation. So doctors accepting gifts would be struck off the Indian medical register for periods ranging from three months to more than one year or as decided by the state medical council if they are found to be indulging in any wrongdoing.

While those accepting gifts worth more than Rs 1,000,till up to Rs 5,000,will be given a warning,those found to have taken gifts for more than Rs 5,000,till up to Rs 10,000,will have their names removed from the MCI register for three months. A gift worth between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000 can lead to removal from MCI register/state medical register for six months,and one above Rs 1 lakh would invite a penalty of more than a year.

This way the doctors will not be allowed to accept expensive gifts,travel facilities,hospitality,cash or monetary grants and it ensures that there is never a compromise with his/her autonomy and that of the institutions, said a Health Ministry official.

Calling it just the bottomline,MCI president Dr Ketan Desai said: It will be the prerogative of state health authorities to increase the punishment further.

The same formula applies to travel facilities too. As the travel facility goes up in terms of money,the punishment also goes up. The MCI proposal says: A medical practitioner shall not accept any travel facility inside the country or outside,including rail,road,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,a programme etc as a delegate.

In a new amendment to the regulation under Section 33 of the Indian Medical Council (IMC) Act,the MCI also orders that a medical practitioner shall not endorse any drug or product of the industry publically,which will amount to removal of his/her name from the Indian Medical Register. Such a thing has not happened anywhere in the world. India is the first country to have introduced this, added Dr Desai.

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Dr Desai said the doctors would have to adhere to the regulations. If they are found practicing even after their names have been removed,it will constitute a criminal act.