New Delhi, October 22, 2025 - Ten months after an inquiry found that 30 doctors allegedly accepted luxury foreign trips sponsored by a pharmaceutical company, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has still not taken any disciplinary action. The delay has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in India’s medical ethics enforcement.
According to the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), the doctors received trips worth ₹1.91 crore to destinations like Monaco and Paris. These were funded by AbbVie Healthcare India Pvt Ltd and presented as international medical conferences. The committee found that the trips violated ethical guidelines for doctors and the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP).
The DoP submitted its report on December 23, 2024, recommending that the NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) take disciplinary action under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. However, as of October 2025, the EMRB has not initiated formal proceedings or revealed the names of the involved doctors.
As per regulations, the EMRB must resolve complaints within six months of filing. Despite this rule, the case has been pending for nearly ten months without any progress.
Ophthalmologist and RTI activist Dr. K.V. Babu highlighted that the delay violates ethical timelines. “The regulations clearly state that complaints should be acted upon within six months. The fact that it has been almost a year with no action is deeply concerning,” he said.
If found guilty, the doctors could face suspension or cancellation of their medical registration. The EMRB’s inaction has sparked criticism from healthcare professionals who believe such delays undermine public trust in the medical regulatory system.
The investigation revealed that AbbVie Healthcare sponsored the foreign trips under the guise of educational conferences. The DoP also directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to assess whether the expenses violated tax laws.
Officials confirmed that the trips were not declared under required compliance protocols, breaching both ethical and tax obligations. Despite the clear findings, no action has been taken against either the doctors or the company so far.
Transparency advocates have demanded that the NMC disclose the names of the doctors involved to ensure accountability. However, the commission has not issued any public statement on the matter beyond confirming that the report is “under examination.”
The delay has triggered criticism from within the medical community. Several doctors and ethics advocates have stated that allowing such cases to linger sends the wrong message.
“If regulators remain silent, it normalizes conflicts of interest in medicine,” said a senior health policy analyst.
(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)
