Medical representatives rule CMCH

Motorbikes of medical representatives on CMCH premises. PHOTO: STAR

Despite restriction on their entry before 12 noon, rush of hundreds of medical representatives has become a common phenomenon. They turn up on the hospital premises riding motor cycles at around 9 am daily to persuade the doctors for prescribing their medicines, sources said.

Their motorbikes are kept in queue on the hospital premises, witnesses said.

The patients face problems as their doctors mostly give time to the visiting medical representatives.

A section of doctors entertain the medical representatives reportedly to get free supply of sample medicines and other gifts, sources said.

Those salesmen of pharmaceutical companies provide the doctors who have roaring practice, with mobile phones, air tickets, suiting cloth, saree and even cash to buy cars, sources added.

They also give pen, writing pad, visiting cards and paper weight to the concerned doctors, sources added.

Most of the doctors get convinced by those salesmen and prescribe the drugs manufactured by their companies.

CMCH Director Brigadier General Toufiqul Alam said the salesmen of pharmaceutical companies were asked not to enter the hospital premises to meet the doctors before 12 noon.

"We have imposed restriction on them as we feel seriously disturbed. Our doctors face frequent interruption in their service to the patients in the wards. But they hardly follow the time- frame set by the hospital authorities," he said.

" Even I caught many of them while I was on round during duty hours and advised them not to create trouble violating the hospital rule," he added.

"I recovered a bag of a salesman from in front of a ward when he seemingly fled sensing my presence during ward visit," the director said.

Now we are thinking imposing total ban on their entry into CMCH, he said adding we will hold a meeting of the hospital management committee in this regard soon.

We also advised our doctors not to meet the medical representatives during duty hours as it hampers their works," he said.

The salesmen also reportedly try to convince nurses and ward boys who have link with the doctors for promoting their business.