Highlights:
- “Friends with benefits,” no action against doctors or pharma in a case of medical industry sponsored foreign jaunt for 30 doctors.
- Things are going to get worse prioritizing quantity over quality by unchecked increase in medical seats without ensuring adequate resources for training.
- Doctor thrashes patient, pilot beats up passenger, are these signs of burnout in high stress professions?
Website: https://uho.org.in
Download: https://uho.org.in/nl/2025-12-26-newsletter.pdf (copy and paste the link)
On December 26th, 2025, Dr. Amitav Banerjee, Chairperson of the Universal Health Organisation (UHO), presented key insights on pressing public health issues in this weekly newsletter.
Dr. Amitav updates related to medical ethics, education, and employee behavior in high-stress professions, reflecting ongoing concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and the quality of education in India.
Medical Ethics and Pharmaceutical Industry Ties
Recently, concerns have emerged regarding the ethical conduct of doctors and pharmaceutical companies. A significant incident involved AbbVie, a pharmaceutical giant, which spent more than ₹2 crores (approximately $250,000) to sponsor 30 doctors on a luxurious trip to Europe under the guise of medical training. An internal audit revealed that the trip was unjustified as the doctors mainly promoted AbbVie’s lucrative products, like Botox.
Despite the findings, not much action was taken against either the company or the doctors involved. The National Medical Commission (NMC) was expected to intervene, but delays in communication and a lack of a functional ethics committee have stunted any real accountability. This situation highlights a troubling connection between medical professionals and the pharmaceutical industry, which could drive up medical costs and lead to an environment where such unethical practices become commonplace.
To combat this, the UHO recommends that the NMC—responsible for regulating medical practices—improve transparency and enforce stricter codes of conduct.
Growth in Medical Education and Its Challenges
The landscape of medical education in India is rapidly changing, with an increase in the number of medical schools and student seats. Since 2013, the number of MBBS seats has risen dramatically from 51,000 to over 118,000 by 2024. This growth aims to fill a critical need for more healthcare professionals, given the rising population. However, there are significant challenges associated with this expansion:
- High Competition: Each medical seat is highly coveted, with competition ratios reaching 20 applicants per seat. In government colleges, some can see up to 40 students vying for a single spot.
- Vacant Seats: Surprisingly, even with rising numbers, many seats go unfilled—2,849 seats were vacant in the last admission cycle. This often happens in high-fee private colleges or newly established institutions in less desirable locations.
- Quality and Affordability: The high cost of medical education, with some fees exceeding ₹1 crore, makes it inaccessible for many aspiring doctors. Thus, even though opportunities appear to increase, the financial burden remains significant.
- Faculty Shortage: New medical colleges struggle to attract qualified faculty, which raises concerns about the effectiveness of the education being provided.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health has called for measures like fee regulation in private colleges and need-based scholarships to make medical education more accessible.
As these challenges unfold, the UHO emphasizes the need for reforms to ensure quality medical education. These include providing adequate resources and infrastructure in medical colleges. The introduction of the NExT exam, intended to standardize medical qualifications, is seen as a necessary step to ensure graduates are competent.
The newsletter draws attention to the necessity for reforms in medical ethics, education, and professional conduct. Without urgent action to enhance accountability, enforce ethical practices, and ensure educational quality amidst rapid expansion, India risks exacerbating problems in healthcare delivery. Concurrently, the behavioral incidents in high-stress sectors signal an urgent need for mental health support and work-life balance initiatives to protect both professionals and the public they serve.
The weekly newsletters bring the updates on the science, battered and bruised during the pandemic, legal updates and impact of activism for a just society, across the world. These are small steps to promote Transparency, Empowerment and Accountability – the ethos of the UHO.
Announcement: Membership & endorsements to the UHO invited: https://uho.org.in/member.php
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