Dhaka, May 13, 2025 (BSS) - Health Sector Reform Commission (HSRC) recommended that medical representatives (MR) of pharmaceutical companies will no longer be allowed to meet doctors directly in hospitals as it distracts doctors from giving treatments to patients. 

“Instead, companies may only communicate with doctors through email or postal services to share product information,” the HSRC recommendation notes.

Earlier on May 5, HSRC chief Professor AK Azad Khan along with other members of the commission handed over the report on health sector reforms to the Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus at his residence Jamuna.     

The report includes 32 points short- and medium-term recommendations and this issue has been addressed in section 21 of the recommendations.

This recommendation aims to prevent disruptions in medical services, as direct interactions between doctors and pharmaceutical representatives have been found to divert doctors' attention and compromise patient care.

It strictly prohibits attempts to influence doctors through gifts or sample medications.

Additionally, pharmaceutical companies will be required to obtain accreditation from the Bangladesh Medical Accreditation Council (BMAC) before organizing medical conferences. Full financial disclosures of such events must be submitted to both the tax office and the BMAC.

While companies may financially support accredited conferences, their representatives can only be present in designated exhibition areas in which offering food, gift bags, or sponsoring entertainment events such as cultural shows or raffle draws will be strictly forbidden.

Furthermore, pharmaceutical promotion activities, including face-to-face product promotion or marketing within hospital premises or doctors' chambers, are now banned. Doctors’ representatives are also barred from becoming members of any pharmaceutical organization, the BMRC said in its recommendation.

Scientific updates or orientation of new products must be presented through centralized, neutral scientific meetings rather than company-specific platforms.

The commission’s report outlined need for establishing an ethical and balanced relationship between physicians and pharmaceutical companies, in line with the guidelines from the World Medical Association. 

The report also recommends the formation of a Food, Drug, and IVD-Medical device administration, headed by a Director General, to oversee three sectors: drugs-vaccines-cosmetics, IVD-medical devices, and food safety.