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.
















