Govt bars doctors from foreign tours sponsored by pharma companies

The Ministry of National Health Services has barred doctors from attending conferences and seminars in foreign countries sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. 

These directives apply to medical professionals within the federal capital jurisdiction.

According to the letter issued by the National Institute of Health (NIH), government doctors are prohibited from travelling abroad at the expense of pharmaceutical companies and donors. 

Additionally, medical professionals will not be granted leave for conferences and seminars held overseas.

“All requests of Ex-Pakistan leave forwarded to this Ministry shall be accompanied by an affidavit by the concerned officers that their foreign visits are not for attending conferences/seminars and that the visit is not sponsored by any private company/donor etc,” the notification read.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), has established a new code of conduct for doctors, restricting their foreign travel funded by pharmaceutical companies. 

The new rules prohibit pharmaceutical companies from covering expenses for doctors' families or companions on these trips and doctors would require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their institutions before receiving funding for overseas travel.