DGHS restricts medical representatives' hospital visits to two days a week

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has restricted pharmaceutical company representatives from meeting government doctors to only two days a week—Mondays and Thursdays.

According to an eight-point directive issued on Thursday (September 11), representatives will be permitted to meet doctors between 12:00pm and 2:30pm on those days only.

They must carry their company identity cards during visits and will not be allowed to remain on hospital premises outside the designated hours.

Officials said the move is intended to "save the image of government doctors working at all public hospitals and institutes, and ensure proper service to patients."

The DGHS warned that any pharmaceutical representative violating the directives will face legal action. They have also been barred from taking photos of prescriptions, documents, or any other hospital information.

The circular also set out restrictions for government doctors. They are prohibited from writing prescriptions or test orders on pads supplied by private diagnostic centres or carrying their logos.

Doctors cannot prescribe medicines or recommend tests from private companies if the same are available at government hospitals. In addition, they may not use any seal other than those issued by the government, nor display drug lists supplied by pharmaceutical companies on their tables.

The directive followed allegations that many doctors prescribe medicines from particular companies or recommend tests at specific diagnostic centres in exchange for benefits.