The Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) has taken a serious view of a foreign trip undertaken by three neurologists from Mumbai in the recent past. The matter came to light when the pharma company sponsored tour found a mention in a recently released study by Pune based Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives (SATHI).

The study highlights how pharma companies lure doctors with smartphones, microwave ovens, gold jewellery, petrol cards and online vouchers.

The report emphasises that while not all doctors indulge in such practices, and that the MRs are not directly involved, there is a need for a regulatory body to regulate private healthcare sector. It also underlined the need to push for urgent enactment of the bill on Uniform Code of Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) which makes pharma companies accountable for malpractices.

MMC has asked for the names of the three doctors from the researchers to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.