In a move to maintain ethical standards and protect patient interests, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has prohibited medical representatives from meeting doctors in central government hospitals. This directive, issued to all central government-run hospitals, aims to prevent medical representatives from unduly influencing doctors to prescribe specific medicines promoted by their companies.

The order, dated May 28, follows earlier instructions regarding the restriction of medical representatives' entry into hospital premises. It emphasizes that medical representatives should not be permitted inside hospitals, and heads of institutions are directed to ensure strict compliance. While direct meetings are now prohibited, the order suggests that medical representatives can share information on recent advances in treatment, investigation, or procedures via email or other digital media.

The decision to bar medical representatives from hospitals is rooted in concerns about the potential for unethical practices and conflicts of interest. The government aims to ensure that doctors dedicate their time to patient care rather than promotional activities. By limiting direct interactions between pharmaceutical representatives and doctors, the government intends to prevent any compromise in patient care. It is believed that the "pharma-doctor nexus" can lead to situations where doctors' time, which should be devoted to patients, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds who rely on government hospitals, is instead consumed by medical representatives promoting their products.

The DGHS has requested that hospitals submit reports detailing the actions taken to implement the directive. This measure is intended to ensure that the ban is effectively enforced across all central government hospitals. The government already has a policy in place which is known as Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices, that aims to prevent any unethical practices. The new order reinforces these efforts by creating an additional layer of control of pharmaceutical marketing practices within government hospitals.

This decision has been made to reinforce ethical practices within healthcare and ensure that patient well-being remains the top priority. By restricting the interactions between medical representatives and doctors, the government aims to create a more transparent and unbiased environment for medical professionals to make decisions about patient care.