Don't give free bees to the medical professionals--PMC

Thu, May 7, 2015 at 10:06 AM

Ethical practices by firms to guarantee cost cutting in prices 

Ludhiana: 7 May 2015: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Ethical practices by the Pharmaceutical industry can lead to substantial reduction in prices of drugs. The uniform code of pharmaceutical medical practices (UCPMP) of the Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals prohibits the Pharma industry as per clause no. 6 and 7 of the code not to give free bees to the medical professionals in the form of travel grants or gifts. In fact each company spends substantial amount on these things. Dr G S Grewal  President PMC informed that the  MCI is already seized with this matter and has initiated action to stop the medical professionals from receiving such benefits from the Pharma companies as these add to the cost of medicines. But it is the duty primarily of the Pharma companies to ensure cost cutting of the drug prices. In fact nearly 67% of the out of pocket expenditure on health by goes on bearing the cost of medicines. Because of out of pocket expenditure on health nearly 4 crore people of our country are pushed below poverty line. There is thus urgent need to act on this matter.  DrArunMitra Chairman Ethical Committee - A of the Punjab Medical Council informed that the PMC has written to the Secretary of the Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals to seek guidance in this regard as the companies do not fall directly under the purview of the medical council. But if the companies are made to stop free bees then they have to be made to ensure the prices of medicines also are slashed accordingly so that the benefit goes to the patients.