New Delhi: Medical equipment manufacturing companies will no longer be able to send doctors abroad for foreign travel. The government has notified rules for the medical equipment sector. The government has taken this step with the aim of curbing unethical practices.

In fact, many companies that manufacture medical equipment organize workshops for doctors abroad and arrange for their food and accommodation. Not only this, they also bear the expenses of their travel there. They also benefit them financially. In return, these companies benefit from the doctors.

The burden on patients increases

Doctors prescribe or recommend devices from companies that bear the cost. Companies charge a hefty amount for these devices and ultimately the burden falls on the patient and his family.

In the notification, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has asked the Medical Devices Association to ban the organisation of workshops abroad for healthcare professionals, providing them hotel accommodation or offering financial grants.

The government sought samples of medical equipment

It says all associations should form an Ethics Committee for Marketing of Medical Devices (ECMPMD). Complaints should be uploaded on their websites, which will be linked to the UCPMP portal of the Department of Pharmaceuticals. The DoP has also sought details of expenses incurred on distribution of medical device samples, conferences, workshops, seminars, etc. from medical device firms.

The notification states that no medical device should be promoted before the product has been approved by the regulatory authority. It states that the words safe or secure should not be used without qualification and it should not be explicitly claimed that a medical device has no adverse effects.

Doctors should not be given gifts

Apart from this, no gift should be given by any medical device company or its agent to any doctor or his family member for personal benefit. It states that companies or their representatives or any person working on their behalf should not facilitate travel within or outside the country to doctors or their family members to attend conferences, seminars or workshops etc.