Seven senior doctors from Maharashtra, including three physicians from Mumbai, are among the 300 doctors summoned by the Medical Council of India (MCI) on charges of accepting bribes from a pharmaceutical firm. From huge amounts of cash to cars, flats and exotic foreign tours, an anonymous complaint received by the MCI has accused these doctors to have taken several benefits for promoting an Ahmedabadbased pharma firm by prescribing its medicines.“As of now, we can only say that about seven doctors are from our state. Of these three are physicians from Mumbai,” said Dr Kishore Toari, president of the Maharashtra Medical Council, a state arm of the MCI.“The investigations are taking place at the national level and we will abide by the decision taken by the MCI on this issue,” said Toari, adding that the code of medical ethics clearly state that doctors cannot accept gifts in cash or kind to promote a particular medicine or a brand.In August, the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers received an anonymous complaint with names of 300 doctors from across the country who were prescribing medicines made by a pharmaceutical company, even as they cost double the general market price. The complaint gave details of doctors and the kind of bribe they took, such as money in cash, luxury cars, wristwatches, television sets, flats and all expenses paid paid foreign trips. “The complaint was forwarded to the Ministry of Health and they in turn asked the MCI to carry out investigations,” said MCI member Dr Ajay Kumar.So far, 109 doctors have appeared before MCI’s ethic committee and the others have been summoned in lots. “Our investigations are simple. We have details of the alleged bribe taken by the doctor. For example, if the doctor has gone for a foreign tour with his/her family, he/she will have to produce the details of air tickets and hotels booked from his/her bank account, visa fees paid through his/her account and other such details,” said an MCI member, adding that not all cases will be so easy but this is the basic line of investigation.Senior national vice-president of Indian Medical Association, Dr K K Aggarwal, said that doctors who have not done any violation should not be worried. “We will stand by our members if they are honest,” said Aggarwal. The doctors who have been summoned can either plead guilt in front of the ethic committee and face action or challenge the accusations. “Since the entire complaint is merely an allegation, we will be extremely careful as it involves as it can malign the image of doctors,” said Kumar.