The Health Ministry has issued a directive banning medical representatives from entering government hospital premises and meeting doctors, in a move aimed at maintaining professional integrity and ensuring uninterrupted patient care.
The order, issued on May 28 by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), instructs central government hospitals to strictly enforce the ban. It has been circulated to major institutions including Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and its affiliated hospitals, and the Rural Health Training Centre.
Medical representatives (MRs), who work for pharmaceutical companies to promote drugs and medical products, routinely visit hospitals to engage with doctors, often providing samples and sharing details of new treatments. However, the DGHS has now made it clear: “Medical representatives should not be permitted in the hospital premises.” Heads of institutions have been directed to issue clear and strict instructions to all departments to implement the order without exception.
Instead, MRs have been advised to use digital platforms such as email or official portals to share updates related to new medications, investigations, or medical procedures.
The ministry has emphasized that the ban is intended to protect the professional environment of public healthcare facilities and to prevent any undue influence on clinical decisions. Hospitals are required to submit compliance reports to the DGHS detailing the steps taken in response to the directive.