It is not permissible for a doctor to accept gifts from pharmaceutical companies
Dear Brothers & Sisters,As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
We see intense competition among the different pharmaceutical companies whose representatives come and distribute gifts to doctors, such as pens on which the name of the medicine is written, or watches or recorders, etc, in return for the doctor prescribing this medication for patients. It should also be noted that there is a department in the company that is dedicated solely to advertising.
Sometimes the company will give the doctor a specific gift in return for prescribing a specific amount of their drug, and sometimes they will give him a gift in return for his prescribing it without specifying any particular amount. And sometimes drugs are equally effective but they are produced by a number of companies with different brand names, so the doctor prescribes the brand of the representative who has visited him most recently and brought him a gift.
Is advertising in this manner halaal or haraam, and what is the ruling on giving these gifts to doctors?.
Sometimes the company will give the doctor a specific gift in return for prescribing a specific amount of their drug, and sometimes they will give him a gift in return for his prescribing it without specifying any particular amount. And sometimes drugs are equally effective but they are produced by a number of companies with different brand names, so the doctor prescribes the brand of the representative who has visited him most recently and brought him a gift.
Is advertising in this manner halaal or haraam, and what is the ruling on giving these gifts to doctors?.
(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)
Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible for a doctor to accept gifts from pharmaceutical companies, because that is a kind of bribe and is haraam, even if it is called a gift or any other name, for names do not change anything. And because these gifts may make him unfairly biased toward the company that has given him a gift and not any other, which causes harm to the other companies.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.
Related Answers:
Recommended answers for you:
Wister