Pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh increasingly influence medical prescriptions by offering incentives to doctors, raising ethical and medical concerns that largely go unchecked, reports UNB.
Sales representatives from pharmaceutical companies are often seen waiting outside clinics and hospitals, eager for a moment to speak with doctors. In many cases, they even monitor prescriptions as patients leave, taking photographs to ensure their drugs are being recommended.
Sirajul Rabi, a patient at a leading private hospital in Dhaka, experienced this first-hand. "As soon as I stepped out of the doctor's office, I was surrounded by sales representatives. They bombarded me with questions, eager to know which medications had been prescribed. It happens every time I visit a doctor, whether in a private or government hospital.
Medical representatives always ask for photos of the prescription. Once, a doctor even insisted that I purchase a specific brand of medicine from a particular company."
Dipa Kabir (not her real name), a resident of Dhaka's Dhanmondi area, faced a similar situation. Visiting a renowned private hospital for a cold-related issue, she was prescribed multiple medications, including an inhaler.
Suspicious of the extensive prescription, she consulted two other doctors, who assured her that only two of the prescribed medicines were necessary, while the inhaler was not required at all.
Despite some hospitals restricting the entry of pharmaceutical representatives, many still allow them access, exacerbating the problem.
Medical professionals have expressed discomfort regarding the practice of prescribing medications in exchange for incentives.
Dr Gazi Nazrul Islam, Director of Ispahani Eye Hospital, acknowledged the issue but noted that hospitals could do little to prevent unethical practices by individual doctors.
"We do permit representatives from selected companies to enter, provided they carry identification. This allows doctors to stay informed about new medications, improving their knowledge. However, if this system is abused, it is unacceptable," he said.
Many doctors, reluctant to speak publicly on the matter, admit that the practice has become deeply ingrained in the medical community. The fear of alienating colleagues who engage in such activities discourages open opposition.
Pharmaceutical marketing professionals, on the other hand, justify their actions by citing the pressures of the industry.
