00:00 Now, doctors cannot take gifts from pharma companies according to the new regulations
00:06 relating to professional conduct of registered medical practitioners.
00:11 They cannot endorse any drug brands, medicine or equipment.
00:16 Under the new rules put out by the National Medical Commission, not just doctors, but
00:21 their families too cannot receive any gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, cash or access
00:27 to recreation from pharma companies or their representatives, commercial healthcare establishments
00:34 and medical device firms under any pretext.
00:38 The NMC also specified that use of alcohol or other intoxicants during duty or off duty,
00:45 which can affect professional practice, will be considered as misconduct.
00:51 In good news for patients and their families, according to the regulations, any request
00:56 for medical records to a registered medical practitioner responsible for patient records
01:01 in a hospital, either from patients or authorized attendant, has to be duly acknowledged and
01:07 documents have to be supplied within 5 working days, instead of the existing provision of
01:13 72 days.
01:15 In case of medical emergencies, efforts should be made to make the medical records available
01:20 at the earliest.
01:23 Within 3 years, registered medical practitioners will need to ensure fully digitized records,
01:28 abiding by the provisions of the IT Act, data protection and privacy laws.
01:35 Every year, self-employed registered medical practitioners will have to maintain medical
01:39 records of patients for 3 years from the date of the last contact with the patient, in a
01:45 format laid down by the National Medical Commission.
01:50 Registered medical practitioners will also have to attend professional development programs
01:55 regularly each year.
01:57 Also, registered medical practitioners should not be involved in any third-party educational
02:03 activity like seminars, workshops or conferences, which involve direct or indirect sponsorship
02:11 from pharmaceutical companies or the health sector.
02:16 The regulation says, in case of abusive, unruly and violent patients or relatives, the registered
02:23 medical practitioner can document and report the behavior and refuse to treat the patient.
02:29 Such patients should be referred for further treatment elsewhere.
02:33 Also for the first time, the term "emergency" has been defined as "life and limb-saving
02:39 procedure".
02:40 Previously, the term "emergency" was not clearly defined.
02:44 The term "emergency" has been changed to "life and limb-saving procedure".
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