In a move that is aimed at curbing any practice on the part of the doctors to return favour to the pharma companies, the New NMC regulations were issued recently in which it was mentioned that “RMPs and their families must not receive any gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or monetary grants, consultancy fee or honorariums, or access to entertainment or recreation from pharmaceutical companies or their representatives, commercial healthcare establishments, medical device companies, or corporate hospitals under any pretext.”
The regulation, however, mentioned that this doesn’t include the salaries and benefits which the registered medical practitioners may receive as employees of such organisations.
Also the NMC regulation mentioned that the medical practitioners should not be party to any academic activity such as workshop, symposia, conference and CPD as this involves either direct or indirect involvement of the pharmaceutical companies through sponsorships.
Essential to maintain records of patients
According to the guidelines of the NMC it is important that the doctors maintain medical records of patients for three years from the date of the last contact with the patient for treatment. This information has to be kept in a standard proforma that has been provided by the NMC.
All possible steps should be taken to digitally maintain the records of the patient so that it can be quickly retrieved.
Also, any request for medical records to a registered medical practitioner (RMP) responsible for patient records in a hospital either by the patients or authorised attendant has to be duly acknowledged. Such documents need to be provided to the patient within five working days instead of the existing provision of 72 days.
During a medical emergency, steps should be taken to make the medical information of the patient available at the earliest.
Registered medical practitioner should attend professional development programme every year
According to the new NMC, it has mentioned in the gazette notification that it is mandatory for a registered medical practitioner to attend professional development programs regularly each year, totalling at least 30 credit hours every five years.
Medical practitioners can refuse treatment in case of abusive and violent patients or relatives
As per the new NMC regulations, the medical practitioners can refuse treatment to any patient or his or her relatives who are abusive or violent. The main aim of this clause is to prevent violent behaviour against the doctors. In this regard,the regulation read, “In case of abusive, unruly and violent patients or relatives, the registered medical practitioner can document and report the behaviour and refuse to treat the patient. Such patients should be referred for further treatment elsewhere.”
