MCI suspends IMA president,secretary

The MCI had got to know that doctors had signed agreements with Pepsi and Dabur in 2009 undertaking to endorse their products in return for money. “For the agreed upon endorsements,the IMA as per agreements,was to get Rs 2.25 crore for three years of the contract (Rs 52 lakh per year from Pepsi and Rs 23 lakh a year from Dabur),” said an official.

Last month,the matter was discussed at the ethics committee meet of the MCI which termed the practice of endorsements of products by medical organisations as unethical. According to the records available with MCI,“It was decided that in return for IMA endorsements,Pepsi would pay for three years to the association and spend money for IMA’s continuing medical education programmes. Pepsi’s financial commitment will be Rs 1.56 crore for three years. Dabur would pay Rs 23 lakh a year to the IMA for Odomos endorsement for three years.”