Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forward

This manuscript examines the ethics of the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and practising physicians. The pharmaceutical industry is alleged to provide incentives to physicians and who in return are expected to prescribe their manufactured medications. Such practices are often cons...

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Main Author: Waris Qidwai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pakistan Medical Association 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Online Access:https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/22845
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author Waris Qidwai
author_facet Waris Qidwai
author_sort Waris Qidwai
collection DOAJ
description This manuscript examines the ethics of the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and practising physicians. The pharmaceutical industry is alleged to provide incentives to physicians and who in return are expected to prescribe their manufactured medications. Such practices are often considered unethical and against the rules and regulations of the regulatory bodies. The core issue facing physicians and pharmaceutical industry relationships is lack of regulation and accountability. Public education and awareness are lacking, and they are unable to question prescription practices of practicing physicians. Patient advocacy groups do not exist to safeguard the patient’s rights. There is a need to strengthen regulatory control to ensure the physician community and pharmaceutical industry relationship remains ethical. Both the physician community and pharmaceutical industry are important stakeholders in healthcare delivery and the ethical relationship between them will benefit health care services. Further discussion and debate on this important yet extremely sensitive issue is strongly recommended. Keywords: Physicians; Pharmaceutical industry; Ethics; Regulatory body; Monitoring
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series Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
spelling doaj-art-dd72ec9160184a9086f116f6c161b5bb2025-08-20T03:40:01ZengPakistan Medical AssociationJournal of the Pakistan Medical Association0030-99822024-11-017411 (Supple-12)10.47391/JPMA.AKU-EPP-06Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forwardWaris Qidwai0Department of Family Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. This manuscript examines the ethics of the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and practising physicians. The pharmaceutical industry is alleged to provide incentives to physicians and who in return are expected to prescribe their manufactured medications. Such practices are often considered unethical and against the rules and regulations of the regulatory bodies. The core issue facing physicians and pharmaceutical industry relationships is lack of regulation and accountability. Public education and awareness are lacking, and they are unable to question prescription practices of practicing physicians. Patient advocacy groups do not exist to safeguard the patient’s rights. There is a need to strengthen regulatory control to ensure the physician community and pharmaceutical industry relationship remains ethical. Both the physician community and pharmaceutical industry are important stakeholders in healthcare delivery and the ethical relationship between them will benefit health care services. Further discussion and debate on this important yet extremely sensitive issue is strongly recommended. Keywords: Physicians; Pharmaceutical industry; Ethics; Regulatory body; Monitoring https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/22845
spellingShingle Waris Qidwai
Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forward
Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
title Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forward
title_full Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forward
title_fullStr Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forward
title_full_unstemmed Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forward
title_short Relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan: present status, issues, and way forward
title_sort relationship of physicians with the pharmaceutical industry in pakistan present status issues and way forward
url https://jpma.org.pk/index.php/public_html/article/view/22845
work_keys_str_mv AT warisqidwai relationshipofphysicianswiththepharmaceuticalindustryinpakistanpresentstatusissuesandwayforward