Doctors and hospitals in Karnataka barred from advertising services

Doctors and hospitals in Karnataka have been barred from advertising their professional services.

The Karnataka Medical Council has issued an order prohibiting doctors and hospitals from advertising their services on the grounds that it was a violation of the Code of Medical Ethics.

President of Karnataka Medical Council Chikkananjappa told reporters that any violation of the Code of Medical Ethics will be treated as “professional misconduct” and action will be initiated under section 15 of the Karnataka Medical Council Act.

He said the penalty could range from a warning to de-recognition for a year. Persistent violation could even attract permanent de-recognition, which means the medical professional cannot practice anywhere in the world.

Chikkananjappa regretted that many hospitals, including superspeciality centres, were advertising themselves on a mass scale in newspapers, billboards and road medians. “Medical profession cannot be marketed”, he said.

About 70 notices had already been issued to doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and diagnostic centres for advertising themselves. “About 65 consultants responded to the notice and we have explained to them the provisions of the law that self-aggrandisement with ulterior motive of attracting patients was against ethics”, Chikkananjappa said.

However, hospitals have taken exception to the Karnataka Medical Council’s move. A spokesman of Wockhardt Hospital, a leading private hospital in Bangalore, told reporters that extending the order to institutions is not correct. “Hospitals worldwide advertise their services. Not to allow hospitals to advertise is taking it a little too far. As there is so much competition in the sector, how else can we advertise our services”, he said.