The Medical Council of India (MCI) has finalised a code of conduct restraining doctors from getting influenced by drug makers through gifts and other disguised bribes to bring down costs for patients.

"Our efforts of the past three years have finally borne fruits and we have been able to bring out an enforceable code of ethics for doctors," said Dr Ketan Desai, president, MCI.

The MCI's code prohibits doctors from receiving gifts, travel facilities, hospitality, monetary grants, medical research, endorsements, etc.

The notification on December 10, 2009, amended the 'Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics), Regulations 2002', stipulating guidelines to be followed by medical practitioners in the country.

The doctors' self-regulatory body has been looking for ways to prevent corruption in the profession. This is probably the best step the body could have taken, although there is a belief that it may not be effective given that it won't be able to supervise lakhs of doctors spread throughout the country.

MCI is an appellate body regulating the country's medical practitioners through various state medical councils. The council started working on the draft regulations in 2006.

With this code, medical practitioners are prohibited from receiving gifts, cash or monetary grants, accepting tours, paid vacations or any hospitality from any representatives of pharma or health care companies under any pretext.

They will not be allowed to endorse any drug or product publicly and ensure that their professional autonomy is not compromised.

They may, however, work for pharmaceutical and allied healthcare industries in advisory capacities, as consultants, as researchers, as treating doctors or in any other professional capacity.

Through this amendment to the existing code of ethics, MCI aims to fulfill two chief objectives. "First, no medical professional should be influenced by any pharma company.

Secondly, since pharma companies will save on their marketing spend on doctors, we expect that they will pass on the benefit to the patients by reducing the prices of drugs," informs Dr. Desai.

The code lays down the summary of dos and don'ts to be followed by the doctors - leaving many questions unanswered.