Medical Representatives' Union demands green signal to work at government hospitals in Silchar

The Centre of Medical And Sales Representatives’ Union (Northeast region), on Thursday, submitted a memorandum to Cachar deputy commissioner Laya Madduri demanding revocation of an order by the district administration of prohibition on entry and working of sales promotion employees (medical representatives) at Silchar Medical College and Hospital and other government hospitals in Silchar.

The order was issued by Madduri on May 17. She directed the authorities of the government hospitals in Silchar to not allow medical representatives during working hours.

The memorandum, submitted by the union on Thursday afternoon, said the Constitution of India empowers the fundamental right of “right to work” to the citizens of the country and sales promotion employees have this right too. The employees’ work process involves visiting to doctors at government hospitals and this is their fundamental right, the memorandum said.

The Drug and Cosmetics, 1940 and the Drug and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement), Act of 1954 notified by the health ministry of India by their notification number S. O. 282 dated January 24, 1961, published in The Gazette of India, Part-II, Section-3(II) on February 4, 1961 authorised medical detailers to work in health-related hospitals and institutions, the memorandum said.

The memorandum mentioned that the Section 2d of Sales Promotion Employees (Condition of Service) Act, 1976 legalised medical detailers with nomenclature as sales promotion employees. Therefore, restricting sales promotion employees from working at government hospitals will be in contravention of the laws of the land applicable to them and may put in deep trouble, the memorandum said.

The union members stressed that the order be revoked and sales promotion employees be given permission again regarding their work at government hospitals and institutions.

In response, Madduri initially said she would not revoke the order as the work of medical representatives causes problems for patients and their families at hospitals. She, however, asked the union members to meet the joint director of health services in this regard and said she would also speak to the joint director regarding the matter — Biprashish Baidya, an employee with Win Medicare, who was present during the memorandum submission, told Barak Bulletin.

Union members including vice-president Supriyo Bhattacharjee, secretary Rajesh Sarkar, district president Tridib Paul and district secretary Saraswat Malakar were also present.