Question : ENDORSEMENT OF FOOD PRODUCTS BYIMA

(a) whether the Medical Council ofIndia (MCI) had served a show-cause notice to the Indian Medical Association (IMA)for endorsing certain food products in violation of the provisions of the IndianMedical Council (Professional Conduct,Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether MCI has since submittedits report to the Board of Directors/ Governers on the matter;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not,the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed by theGovernment to check such unethical endorsements and penalise the erringoffcials?

THE MINISTER OF HEATH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a) to (d): Medical Council of India (MCI) informed that the Council had issued a Show Cause Notice on 18.08.2010 to Secretary, Indian Medical Association (IMA) for endorsing the products in violation of the provisions of the Indian Medical Council (Profession Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulation, 2002 in a complaint filed by Ms.Bindu M. V. Accordingly, the Ethics Committee decided to remove the name of President and Secretary, IMA from the Indian Medical Register for a period of 6 (Six) months and to issue a censure letter to all the Executive Committee members of the IMA to not to repeat such practices in future. This decision of the Ethics Committee of the Council was informed to IMA by MCI on 23.11.2010.

MCI further informed that another complaint dated 13.12.2012 filed by Dr. K. V. Babu, Kerala, has been considered by the Ethics Committee and subsequently, by the Board of Governors (BoG), MCI. The BoG returned the minutes to Ethics Committee with some observation.

(e): Government on receipt of complaints, asks MCI to take action against such unethical endorsements and penalize the erring doctors as per provision contained in clause 6.8.1(h) of MCI’s “Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 amended time to time.