**Summary of Policy: Ban on Medical Representatives in Central Government Hospitals**
**Overview**
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Pharmaceuticals, has announced a ban on the entry of Medical Representatives (MRs) into Central Government Hospitals. This measure, communicated by the Department of Health & Family Welfare, is based on Office Orders issued by the Directorate General of Health Services dated May 12, 2023, and May 28, 2025.
**Core Objective**
The primary purpose of restricting frequent visits by medical representatives is to curb unethical pharmaceutical marketing practices. This initiative is part of a broader regulatory effort to ensure transparency and integrity within government healthcare institutions.
**Authorized Information Channels**
While physical visits are prohibited, the policy outlines alternative professional channels through which doctors can stay informed about new treatments, investigations, or medical procedures:
* Email and digital media platforms.
* Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs.
* Professional medical conferences.
**Administrative Details**
* **Announcement Source:** Smt. Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, via a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
* **Date of Announcement:** March 24, 2026.
* **Official Reference:** Release ID 2244471 (PC/PM).
* **Relevant Authorities:** Department of Pharmaceuticals; Department of Health & Family Welfare; Directorate General of Health Services.
Key Entities Referenced
Medical Representatives: Personnel from pharmaceutical companies whose physical visits to Central Government Hospitals are prohibited to prevent unethical marketing practices.
Directorate General of Health Services: The regulatory body that issued the Office Orders banning medical representatives from visiting government hospitals.
Central Government Hospitals: The healthcare institutions where the ban on frequent visits by medical representatives is applicable.
Department of Health & Family Welfare: The government department responsible for communicating the ban and regulating pharmaceutical marketing practices.
Continuing Medical Education (CME): An approved channel through which doctors are permitted to receive information from medical representatives regarding new treatments and procedures.
Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers :
Department of Pharmaceuticals
Ban on medical representatives in Government
hospitals
Posted On: 24 MAR 2026 4:03PM by PIB Delhi
Department of Health & Family Welfare has informed that as per their Office Order dated 12th May 2023
and 28th May 2025, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services, it has been communicated that
Medical Representatives are not permitted in Central Government Hospitals. The purpose of curbing
frequent visits of medical representatives in Government hospitals is to prevent any unethical marketing
practices.
Department of Health & Family Welfare has informed that doctors receive information about new
treatments, investigations, or procedures from medical representatives through email, other digital media
or in Continuing Medical Education (CME) & conferences. This move aligns with broader efforts to
regulate pharmaceutical marketing practices and reduce unethical activities.
This information was given by Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a
written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
*****
PC/PM
(Release ID: 2244471) Visitor Counter : 157
Read this release in: Urdu , ही , Telugu