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The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has refused to share the names of 30 doctors who allegedly accepted pharma-sponsored trips from US-based company AbbVie. The refusal came after a five-month wait to an RTI filed by Kerala-based health activist Dr. K.V. Babu.
What Happened
Back in May 2024, the DoP received an anonymous complaint accompanied by documents and travel records. It is alleged that 30 doctors dealing with medical aesthetics/anti-ageing products were taken on international trips by pharma major AbbVie.
The complaint said these trips were sponsored under the pretext of attending the Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress 2024, held from February 1–3 in Monaco and from March 26–29 in Paris.
By September 2024, DoP formed a special audit committee to look into the issue. The complaint was also sent to the Ethics Committee for Pharma Marketing Practices under the Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI).
Eventually, the Apex Committee for Pharma Marketing Practices confirmed that AbbVie had violated the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP). The total cost of these trips was estimated at ₹1.91 crore.
What Action Was Taken
The committee recommended a “remedial action”, asking AbbVie to support underprivileged patients in government hospitals. But the company refused. In the end, they were let off with just a reprimand.
The committee had also said that the names of the 30 doctors would be forwarded to the National Medical Commission (NMC) for further action under medical ethics regulations.
Why the Issue Resurfaced
Because there has been no update since. On December 28, 2024, Dr. K.V. Babu filed an RTI asking whether the names were actually forwarded to the NMC, as the committee had promised in its order dated December 23, 2024.
But it took five months for the reply to arrive. Finally, the DoP responded to the RTI saying:
“The requested information involves the disclosure of names or personal information and also is not of public interest and is accordingly not provided as per Section 8 (1)(j) of the RTI Act.”
Meanwhile, when Dr. Babu had filed a separate RTI with the NMC’s Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB), they replied on May 8 that they had not received the names of the doctors either.
Dr. K.V. Babu’s Response
Speaking to the press, Dr. K.V. Babu said:
“Though the Apex Committee took the decision on December 23, the EMRB of NMC did not receive any communication till May 8. The DoP has also refused to reveal the names of 30 doctors in a reply after five months. The only punishment so far is a reprimand to the pharma company. Why is the DoP hesitant to send the names to NMC and disclose them? Why are they having second thoughts on this issue?”
Have the Doctors Violated Medical Ethics
This act goes against the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002. As per these rules, a doctor isn’t allowed to accept sponsored travel, accommodation, or paid vacation from any pharmaceutical or allied health company, whether for work or personal purposes. That includes conferences, seminars, or CMEs.
As per the norms, if proven guilty, the doctors can face suspension of their license.
Why It Matters
A pharma company was found violating the code. Thirty doctors were named in the complaint. The committee said action should be taken. But there’s no clarity on whether their names even reached the medical regulator. And now the DoP has shut the door on disclosing them, even through RTI.
(Input From Various Sources)
(Rehash/Pooja Bansal/MSM)
