MCI asked to look into bribery charges against doctors

Amid allegations of some doctors' accepting bribes to prescribe branded drugs, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today said Medical Council of India has been asked to look into the issue.
Replying to a supplementary in Rajya Sabha regarding a sting operation allegedly showing doctors taking bribe to prescribe branded drugs, he admitted some doctors were engaged in unethical practices and accepting indirect bribe.
He said a high-level committee was set up to look into a similar issue earlier and the Health Secretary and Medical Council of India has been asked to include the latest one in the purview of the panel for early inquiry.

"We have asked the Union Health Secretary and Medical Council of India" to club the latest expose with the earlier inquiry committee.
The Minister said doctors at CGHS and other government hospitals are encouraged to prescribe affordable generic drugs, instead of the branded medicines.
Vardhan admitted that some doctors still prescribe branded drugs out "old habits" and stressed government will encourage recommendation of generic drugs by doctors.

There are two formularies -- generic formulary containing 1,447 medicines and propriety formulary containing 622 medicines -- in the names of medicines included in the formulary of allopathic medicines of CGHS and other government hospitals.

Vardhan said instructions are issued from time to time to restrict prescriptions to the medicines listed in formulary.
"The procurement process is being further streamlined to ensure availability of generic drugs at affordable prices," he said.
He said workshops for doctors will be organised in the coming months.