The annual conference of paediatricians saw a flyer doing the rounds, promising digital weighing scales, gold coins, and stethoscope as gifts to doctors ordering vaccines in bulk for diseases like typhoid and rota virus. While the flyer did not mention the name of any pharmaceutical company, a doctor said it was found only at the booth of one company.
Pharma firms have been banned from offering incentives to doctors to push their products forward. The meet's chief organiser denied the incident. "There's no such thing. There are never any incentives for vaccines. If someone buys vaccines in bulk, they may get a reduction in the overall price," he said. "I have been a paediatrician for 18 years, and believe me, there is no such thing as an incentive offered to doctors."
The flyer offering a "Sankranti bonanza" stated that for a free gold coin, doctors have to order 150 each of both vaccines. "It mentions that doctors ordering 100TCV plus 100ROTA can choose between a digital baby weighing machine or ttmann stethoscope Class III as free gifts," a doctor attending the 54th PEDICON, said.
