Pharmaceutical company representatives will be allowed to visit hospitals 2 days a week
The Directorate General of Health Services has imposed restrictions on the free movement of pharmaceutical company representatives in government hospitals. From now on, Pharmaceutical company representatives will be allowed to visit hospitals 2 days a week.
The new directive was issued in a circular signed by ABM Abu Hanif, Director (Administration) of the Directorate General of Health Services, last Thursday. Although the directive, sent to the directors of all government hospitals and institutes in the country, mentions a total of eight issues, the greatest emphasis is placed on controlling the activities of pharmaceutical company representatives.
Directive No. 6 of the circular states that from now on, representatives of pharmaceutical companies will be able to meet doctors only two days a week—Monday and Thursday. The time for the meeting has been fixed from 12 noon to 2:30 pm.
The directive also states that no pharmaceutical company representative will be allowed to stay within the boundaries of government hospitals outside of these specified hours. And, all representatives must visibly display their company ID cards during the meeting. Also, they cannot collect any patient information or take pictures of prescriptions.
For a long time, there have been allegations that pharmaceutical company representatives have been in hospitals and doctors’ chambers, causing suffering to patients and ruining the working environment. They have also been accused of influencing doctors to prescribe unnecessary drugs or drugs from specific companies.
Other guidelines include not writing prescriptions on pads at private clinics or diagnostic centers and not asking for medicines or tests that are in hospital supply from outside.
In addition to these, no private seals can be used in government health institutions. However, generic name seals without advertisements can be used. Lists of medicines supplied by private pharmaceutical companies cannot be kept on tables.
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