New Delhi — The National Medical Commission (NMC) has yet to initiate any known disciplinary action against 30 doctors who were sponsored for foreign trips worth ₹1.91 crore by AbbVie Healthcare India Pvt. Ltd., despite a formal directive issued by the Apex Committee for Pharma Marketing Practices (ACPMP) in December 2024.
The controversy stems from AbbVie’s sponsorship of travel and stay for the doctors to attend the Aesthetics & Anti-Aging Medicine World Congress 2024 in Monaco and Paris, ostensibly for professional education but deemed by regulators as a violation of the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP 2014 & 2024).
Special Audit Confirms UCPMP Breach
A special audit by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) confirmed unethical promotion of Botox and Juvederm, ruling that AbbVie violated ethical marketing norms. Following the findings:
- The ACPMP formally reprimanded AbbVie.
- Directed CBDT to examine tax implications.
- Urged NMC to act against the doctors under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002.
NMC Claims It Hasn’t Received Doctor List
In an RTI response dated April 29, 2025, the NMC claimed:
- It had not received the list of 30 doctors.
- Other details sought under the RTI did not pertain to the Ethics & Medical Registration Board (EMRB) and were redirected to the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
This contradicts the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s earlier communication confirming that the matter was forwarded to the NMC.
Growing Concerns on Regulatory Transparency
The delay in action has sparked criticism from sections of the medical and transparency advocacy communities. Dr. Babu K.V., who filed the RTI, expressed concerns about the lack of coordination between agencies and what he termed “regulatory apathy” toward ethical breaches.
With UCPMP 2024 aiming to tighten oversight on pharma-doctor interactions, the NMC’s failure to act on a high-profile case is being seen as a test of the body’s resolve to uphold medical ethics.
