DGHS limits medical representatives’ hospital visits to twice weekly

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has imposed new restrictions on pharmaceutical company representatives, limiting their visits to government hospitals to just two days a week — Mondays and Thursdays.

Under the directive issued on Thursday (September 11), medical representatives will only be allowed to meet government doctors between 12:00pm and 2:30pm on these designated days. They must carry their company identity cards at all times during visits and are prohibited from remaining on hospital premises outside the specified hours.

Officials explained that the move aims to safeguard the reputation of government doctors across public hospitals and institutions and to ensure uninterrupted, quality service to patients.

The DGHS has issued a stern warning that any representatives found violating these rules will face legal consequences. Additionally, photographing prescriptions, hospital documents, or any other information on hospital grounds has been strictly banned.

The circular also outlines guidelines for government doctors, forbidding them from writing prescriptions or ordering tests on stationery provided by private diagnostic centers or bearing their logos. Doctors are instructed not to prescribe medicines or recommend tests from private companies if those services or medications are available at government facilities.

Furthermore, doctors must exclusively use government-issued seals and are not allowed to display pharmaceutical companies’ drug lists on their desks.

This directive comes amid allegations that some doctors have been prescribing medications or recommending diagnostic tests from specific companies in exchange for benefits, raising concerns about ethical practices within the healthcare system.