Commission Recommends Ban on In-Hospital Pharma Rep Visits

Pharmaceutical representatives will be prevented from meeting with doctors in person at hospitals, according to the major reform suggested by the Health Sector Reform Commission of Bangladesh. Instead of face-to-face visits, the reps would have to inform doctors about their drugs over email. This is a part of a comprehensive package of reforms in the Commission's report, which is envisioned to bring in revolutionary changes in the health sector of the country.

Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Interim Government's Chief Advisor's Deputy Press Secretary, revealed the news through a Facebook posting on Monday. He said the Commission is going to submit its last report on the same day and that the intended steps could contribute significantly towards developing healthcare delivery as well as proper service for the common people.

"As far as I know, they are going to make a recommendation stating that pharmaceutical company representatives will no longer be allowed to meet doctors directly in hospitals. Instead, they will have to communicate information about their medicines via email. If implemented, this change will save doctors' time and significantly reduce issues such as bribery and gift exchanges. Additionally, it will help eliminate the practice of prescribing unnecessary medicines to please companies," he wrote.

Majumder mentioned that the intended restriction of pharma representatives aims to improve efficiency and transparency. "This initiative will spare doctors precious time and curb illegal activities like bribery and the exchange of gifts substantially," he stated. "It can also control the practice among certain doctors of writing unnecessary prescriptions in order to fulfill pharma companies."

He added that among the other key recommendations that are expected to feature in the report is the compulsory use of generic names in prescriptions, which can encourage rational drug use and affordability in the health system.