The Union Health Minister, J.P. Nadda has decried the unethical nexus between the doctors and Pharma companies which amounts to violation of medical ethics in the country. In majority cases, the pharma companies are luring the doctors by giving gifts and other benefits for prescribing the brand of medicines of their choice to the patients.

“It is a known fact that every year, the pharma companies are sponsoring the tours, stays in five star hotels and offering gifts and other incentivesbenefits to doctors for prescribing the branded drugs. While on one hand the government is urging the doctors to prescribe generic drugs, majority doctors in corporate, private clinics and even in government hospitals are prescribing branded drugs. Because of this, the common man is not able to bear the growing healthcare costs and getting buried debts,” opined a senior retired drug control administration officer.

While stressing that doctors have a key role to play in enhancing the rural healthcare in the country, the minister urged the medical practitioners to observe medical ethics and fulfill their promise to serve in the rural areas as responsible citizens. The union minister expressed concern over the recent agitations by doctors to exempt from one year compulsory rural service.

Particularly in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) had gone on a 60 day strike suspending all the rural, urban and emergency medical services in both the states. It is only after the High Court in Hyderabad intervened and declared the doctors’ strike as illegal and unwarranted, the doctors association had retreated and resumed their services.

“When the government is spending huge amounts for the education of the doctors in the government colleges, it is the responsibility of the doctors to serve to the nation. Many doctors who have pledged to serve during their joining are now crying foul. It is unethical on the part of the doctors to go for the strike. If they have any issues and problems they can always resolve them through talks with the government,” opined an officer in the Medical and Health department in Telangana.

The recent theme ‘Aao Gaon Chale’ of ‘IMA NATCON 2014’ National Conference held in Ahmedabad organised by Indian Medical Association also focussed stress on the doctor’s responsibility to serve in rural areas.