➡ AbbVie Sponsored Foreign Trips for 30 Doctors, DoP Reprimanded Company
New Delhi: Months after AbbVie Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. was reprimanded for sponsoring foreign trips worth ₹1.91 crore for 30 doctors in violation of the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP), no action has been initiated against the doctors involved. Despite the Apex Committee for Pharma Marketing Practices (ACPMP) forwarding the matter for further action, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has yet to receive the doctors’ names.
➡ DoP Refuses RTI Request, Cites Privacy Concerns
Kerala-based health activist Dr. KV Babu filed a Right to Information (RTI) request on December 28, 2024, seeking the names of the doctors. The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) responded after five months, stating that the disclosure of names does not serve public interest and is exempt under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act.
➡ NMC Ethics Board Still in the Dark
In a parallel RTI filed with the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the NMC, Dr. Babu was informed that the list of doctors had not been received even by May 8, 2025—over four months after the committee’s decision. “List of 30 doctors is yet to be received by this Commission,” the EMRB stated in its reply.
➡ Extravagant Trips Disguised as Conferences
Earlier investigations revealed that the trips to Monaco and Paris were arranged under the guise of attending aesthetic and anti-aging medicine conferences. The expenses—flights and hotels—were fully covered by AbbVie for 30 doctors associated with Botox and Juvederm products.
➡ Regulations Prohibit Accepting Such Benefits
As per Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, doctors are prohibited from accepting any form of travel or hospitality from pharmaceutical companies. The law explicitly states that medical practitioners cannot accept paid vacations or conference travel from industry players.
➡ Questions Raised Over DoP’s Inaction
Dr. Babu expressed concern over the delay, stating:
“Though the Apex Committee took the decision on 23/12/2024, the EMRB did not receive any communication till May 8th. The only punishment so far is ‘reprimanding the pharma company.’ Why is the DoP hesitant to send the names to NMC or disclose them publicly? Are there second thoughts?”
➡ CBDT Also Roped In for Tax Violations
The DoP had also instructed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to assess the tax liabilities of AbbVie and the 30 doctors involved. However, no public information has emerged about the progress of this action either.
➡ Silence Raises Accountability Concerns
Despite multiple levels of inquiry and confirmation of violations, the lack of transparency and absence of punitive action against the doctors have raised serious concerns about the enforcement of ethical standards in India’s medical and pharmaceutical sectors.
