Pakistan has enforced a prohibition on doctors and hospital staff from embarking on foreign trips sponsored by companies. This measure was revealed through a directive from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to government-managed hospitals. The letter emphasized that all requests for overseas trips must be accompanied by an assurance from the concerned officers that their travels are not funded by private entities.

In a separate development, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a new set of guidelines for pharmaceutical companies and doctors. These rules, sanctioned by the federal government, stipulate that companies cannot cover the travel expenses of doctors’ family members. Furthermore, doctors must obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their institution before their travel expenses are compensated, as per the notification issued by DRAP.