Page 9 - Doctors

Samples given to doctors are not freebies: Pharma companies in HC

Claiming that samples of medicines provided to doctors do not constitute 'freebies,' individual pharmaceutical companies and the Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Association have approached the High Court of Karnataka. They have challenged the June 16, 2022 circular issued by the Ministry of Finance by which it was directed that pharma companies have to deduct TDS (tax deduction at source) at ten per cent of the value of the free samples provided by them to medical practitioners. "The free sample of medicines given to the medical practitioners is only to prove the efficacy and to establish the trust of the doctors on the quality of the drugs. This again cannot be reckoned as freebies given to the doctors or for promotion of its products," the petition that was heard by a division bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe claimed. The High Court ordered issuing of notices to the respondents and adjourned the hearing of the case on Thursday. The petition claimed that the ..

Biogen agrees to pay $900 mn to settle doctor kickback allegations

Biogen has agreed to pay USD 900 million to resolve allegations that it violated federal law by paying kickbacks to doctors to persuade them to prescribe its multiple sclerosis drugs, federal prosecutors said. The agreement announced on Monday settles a whistleblower lawsuit brought by former Biogen employee Michael Bawduniak, according to a statement from the office of US attorney for Massachusetts, Rachael Rollins. Under the terms of the settlement, Biogen will pay more than USD 843 million to the federal government and more than USD 56 million to 15 states for overbilling Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs. Bawduniak will receive a portion of the federal recovery. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company in a statement said it settled so it can focus on our patients and strategic priorities" and said the settlement does not include an admission of liability. Biogen believes its intent and conduct was at all times lawful and appropriate and Biogen denies a

NEET answer key 2022 announced: Check all important details here

National Testing Agency (NTA) released the answer key on Wednesday, August 31. The initial date for the NEET answer key announcement was August 28, Sunday. Read this article to know more

Delhi HC defers hearing till August 30 on doctors' plea against Ramdev

The Delhi High Court Friday deferred hearing till August 30 on a lawsuit by several doctors' associations over the use of Coronil and said that judicial propriety and discipline demanded that proceedings be restrained until there is some clarity concerning the pendency of allegedly similar issues before the Supreme Court. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani asked that a copy of the petition by the Indian Medical Association pending before the apex court be placed before the high court to enable it to take a call on whether there is any commonality and if it should proceed any further. Judicial discipline demands that I restrain further proceedings in the matter till they (defendants) get some clarity (from the Supreme Court). I will ask them to file a copy of the Supreme Court petition on the record here. I will defer the proceedings today, the judge said. Several doctors' associations moved the high court last year, alleging that Ramdev was misleading and misrepresenting to the public at

Supreme Court raps Yoga Guru Ramdev for criticising allopathy, doctors

The Supreme Court Tuesday came down heavily on Yoga Guru Ramdev for criticising allopathy and allopathic practitioners, saying he needed to be restrained from abusing the doctors and other systems of treatment. The top court also sought responses from the Union Health Ministry and Ministry of Ayush and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd on a plea of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) alleging a smear campaign against the vaccination drive and modern medicines. What happened to this Guru Swami Ramdev Baba?... Ultimately we respect him as he popularised Yoga. We all go for this. But, he should not criticise the other system. What is the guarantee that Ayurveda whatever system he is following will work? You see the type of advertisements accusing all the doctors as if they are killers or something. Huge advertisements (have been given), a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said. The bench, also comprising justices Hima Kohli and C T Ravikumar, said that the Yog Guru cannot abuse the doctors

Dolo 650 maker rejects allegations of Rs 1,000 cr worth freebies to doctors

Drug firm Micro Labs has termed the allegations that it offered freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore to doctors to promote its anti-inflammatory drug Dolo 650 as baseless. The Supreme Court on Thursday was told by an NGO that the Central Board of Direct Taxes has accused the Bengaluru-based drug firm of distributing Rs 1,000 crore freebies to doctors for prescribing its 650 mg tablets. In a statement, a Micro Labs spokesperson said that in some of the recent media reports it has been falsely and maliciously alleged that the company has been distributing freebies worth Rs 1,000 crore to promote Dolo 650 in one year. "This is highly misleading and is affecting the reputation of Micro Labs, pharmaceutical industry and doctors," the spokesperson added. The annual sales of Dolo 650 have been Rs 360 crores, about 8 per cent of the company sales. Despite the raw material cost tripling during COVID times, Micro Labs maintained its uninterrupted supplies without any price change as per the govern

Dolo-650 makers spent Rs 1k-cr freebies on docs to prescribe drug: SC told

The Supreme Court Thursday was told by an NGO that the Central Board of Direct taxes has accused the Pharma company manufacturing popular Dolo tablets, an anti-inflammatory, fever reducer drug, of distributing Rs 1000 crore freebies to doctors for prescribing a dosage of its 650 mg tablets. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna was told by senior advocate Sanjay Parikh and advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing for petitioner 'Federation of Medical and Sales Representatives Association of India', that the market price of any tablet up to 500mg is regulated under price control mechanism of the government but the price of drug above 500mg can be fixed by manufacturer Pharma Company. He said that to ensure a higher profit margin, the company distributed freebies to doctors to prescribe the Dolo drug of dosage 650mg capacity. Parikh added that it is an "irrational dose combination" and said that he would like to bring more such facts to the knowledge of the court after a response i

DOLO-650 makers distributed freebies worth Rs 1,000 cr to doctors: FMRAI

The petitioner, while seeking statutory backing to the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), said that corruption in pharma marketing practices is yet unregulated in India

Doctors flag threat of Chinese manjha, patients undergo life-saving surgery

Highlighting the menace of "Chinese manjha" to life and limb of people, they also underlined its alleged "rampant illegal sale, despite a ban" by the government, the hospital authorities said.

UK economy unexpectedly jumps in May as doctors and travel agents get busy

Britain's new finance minister, Nadhim Zahawi, welcomed the signs of growth but said there was no room for complacency

National Doctors' Day 2022: PM Modi greets 'all hardworking doctors'

IMA first celebrated National Doctors' Day on July 1, 1991, to pay tribute to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy on his birth anniversary

Health ministry building two 50-bed hospitals for Amarnath Yatra pilgrims

Health professionals, including doctors and paramedics, from 11 states and union territories will be deployed in batches

Income tax rules: Here are the changes in rules from July 1, 2022

While the late fees for linking PAN-Aadhaar will shoot up, doctors and influencers will have to pay 10% TDS on the benefits they receive from sales promotions

Delayed diagnosis, reluctance to take booster dose pushing severe cases up

Patients are turning up many days after onset of symptoms, say doctors

Omicron sub-variants behind rising Covid-19 cases in India: Doctors

The Union Health Ministry said on Thursday that India registered 7,240 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, up from 5,233 infections logged the previous day.

SC refuses to postpone NEET-PG-22 exam, says would affect patient care

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant said postponement of the exam would create chaos and uncertainty and would affect the larger section of students, who have registered for the exam

Nearly 80% shortfall in specialist docs in rural community health centres

Situation in 2021 has worsened over the previous year, shows government data

India to get record number of new doctors in coming 10 years: PM Modi

His remarks came after he inaugurated the KK Patel Super Speciality Hospital in the Bhuj district of Gujarat via video conferencing.

NMC allows foreign medical graduates to complete internship in India

IMA has recommended that all evacuated medical students who are Indian citizens to be "adjusted as a one time measure in existing medical schools" in India for the remainder of their MBBS course.

Creating distinction b/w docs, paramedics for ex-gratia not justified: HC

Creating any distinction for grant of ex-gratia between them and other medical practitioners working in hospitals requisitioned by the government is not justified, said the Delhi High Court