Doctors Gave Dolo After 1,000-Crore Freebies

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Justice AS Bopanna called it a "serious matter"

Well-sounding Dolo 650 has been one of the easiest takeaways and has now been into the controversy. It was one of the easiest medicines to be taken at a glance for any cough, cold or viral fever related issues. 

Pharma companies giving incentives to doctors for prescribing their medicines should be held accountable, contending a petition being heard by the Supreme Court. 

As an example, the petition cited Dolo- 650 -- a tablet prescribed for fever -- and said its manufacturers have invested Rs 1000 crore in freebies. A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Justice AS Bopanna called it a "serious matter" and asked the Centre to file its response within 10 days.  

"This is not music to ears. I was asked to have the same medicine when I had Covid. This is a serious matter," said Justice DY Chandrachud.

The petition was filed by the Federation of Medical & Sales Representatives Association of India.

Senior Advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for Federation of Medical & Sales Representatives Association of India, submitted that DOLO had invested 1,000 core in freebies to have its anti-fever drug prescribed to patients.

The Supreme Court was hearing a PIL seeking directions to make pharmaceutical companies liable for giving freebies to doctors as incentive to prescribe their drugs.

The plea by the Federation of Medical & Sales Representatives Association of India sought direction to give statutory backing to the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP).

The petitioner pointed out the example of the excessive sale and prescription of the drug Remdisivir during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example.

The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure operations last month. The group has a presence in over 50 countries. The search action covered around 36 premises spread across 9 states.

During the search action, unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 1.20 crore and unaccounted gold and diamond jewellery worth more than Rs. 1.40 crore were seized.