Thread by @Banjotkaur

#Dolo story shouldn't surprise, here's why:

Replying my four RTI applications in 2019, @Pharmadept gave me names of 20 pharma firms, which the govt knew, had bribed the docs. This was info ON RECORD. But not a single company got punished. (1/n)
downtoearth.org.in/news/health/th…

But @Pharmadept refused to name the docs bribed, saying, it would be seek permission of those who made complaints against docs. When I also reached to original complainants, they had no obj. Still DoP nvr shared names. Asked what action did it take, it said, ask
@MoHFW_INDIA

@MoHFW_INDIA said the companies are part of associations of pharma companies. 'We can't do anything, only this assns can'. And what they can? Guess what,remove them from assn.That's all. But that almost never happens. Neither DoP nor ministry told me what action was finally taken

@MoHFW_INDIA also forwarded my application to @CDSCO_INDIA_INF, the drug regulator. The latter said they had asked Maharashtra FDA to take action. It's role was over with that, it said.

Then I asked MCI what had then done against those docs who accepted a whole range of products and services as bribes. It was silent on docs and about firms it said, it couldn't do anything. Ball was back in court of govt.

This was in 2019. The story has been the same forever.

The story is simple. There is code called UCPMP that prohibits unhealthy alliance b/w firms and docs. But UCPMP is VOLUNTARY. It was never turned into law by govt.
You follow UCPMP, great. You don't follow it, no issues. Nobody is jailed.

So, don't be surprised at #Dolo story

More in the story filed for @down2earthindia in 2019: downtoearth.org.in/news/health/th… (n/n)