Doctors at Doon hospital pulled up for prescribing outside medicines – ET HealthWorld

The state health department had earlier cautioned doctors at government centres to avoid prescribing outside medicines.

There were complaints of doctors “doing this for commission in tandem with medical representatives and sales personnel”.

In December last year, the health department had carried out inspections following the allegations and then sent out appropriate notices when prescriptions with outside medicines were found.

It had come to light that doctors were prescribing the same medicine under a different brand that then had to be purchased elsewhere creating inconvenience for the patients.

“We have once again reminded our doctors to only prescribe medicines available with us. Every three months we review the requirements and add on the necessary medicines to our pharmacy. In case some specific medicine isn’t available, the closest composition is prescribed but we try to keep it in-house only,” said chief medical superintendent (CMS), Doon hospital, Dr KC Pant.

The CMS said that there have been general complaints of doctors indulging in monetary activities, but no particular complaint against any specific physician has been raised so far.

“In case allegations are made against any doctor, we will immediately notify their superior and take departmental action against them. Such practices will not be tolerated,” said the CMS.

Medicines at all government hospitals are supposed to be given to patients free of cost. But there is a nexus in which doctors work with sales representatives for profit and end up prescribing specific medicines for commission which creates problems for patients most of whom are from economically weak backgrounds and cannot afford these medicines.