KARACHI: A foreign trip by more than 100 Pakistani gynaecologists to London for the “FHC360 Nexus — Feminine Healthcare 360 World Congress” has raised allegations of non-transparent pharmaceutical sponsorship and concerns regarding regulatory oversight. The three-day event, held at Hilton Kensington, included scientific sessions, workshops, hospitality activities and leisure programmes. A good number of family members of doctors also flown to London under the guise of this event.
The congress was extensively promoted by Acumen Pharma, which, according to several participating doctors, allegedly supported travel, accommodation and hospitality arrangements. However, no official documentation has been made available to clarify the extent of the company’s involvement, the list of sponsored participants, criteria for selection, or whether family members were included in sponsorship packages.
Health Matters Media sent written questionnaires to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), Ministry of National Health Services, Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC), Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists Pakistan (SOGP) and the Managing Director of Acumen Pharma.
As of publication, no written response has been received from Acumen Pharma, despite a wait of nearly one week.
However, Managing Director Dr. Azam Khan contacted this scribe by phone, stating that pharmaceutical companies are permitted to allocate budgets for marketing and that such sponsorships are common industry practice. He confirmed verbally that Acumen Pharma sponsored doctors and accompanying family members, but did not provide written details, financial disclosures, or compliance documents.
No written comment was received from DRAP, including from its CEO Dr. Obaidullah Malik. The Health Ministry also issued no response.
Responding to Health Matters letter, the PMDC President Dr. Rizwan Taj said the Council’s Code of Ethics allows sponsorships only for strictly academic purposes, requires disclosure to institutions and PMDC, and does not permit sponsorship of spouses or children. He acknowledged that the London trip raises “valid questions” under these provisions and said PMDC would issue a reminder to practitioners.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), through Secretary General Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, said that accepting personal benefits, incentives or gifts in return for prescribing specific medicines constitutes a violation of medical ethics. PMA maintains a zero-tolerance policy on such practices and describes them as harmful to the doctor–patient relationship.
No responses was received from SOGP.
Independent checks by Health Matters show that the FHC360 Nexus platform has no publicly listed affiliation with recognised national or international OBGYN societies. Delegates who attended the event said they were unable to confirm the financial structure of the trip, including the division of costs between self-funded and sponsored participants.
The absence of official disclosure has led to allegations regarding transparency, especially in relation to the nature of sponsorship, compliance with DRAP guidelines, and potential conflicts of interest.
Health experts note that pharmaceutical marketing expenditures — including foreign trips — are typically factored into medicine pricing, potentially increasing costs for patients. They also warn that such incentives may allegedly influence prescribing patterns, although no specific evidence was provided in relation to this event.
The lack of clarity surrounding the London trip, combined with limited regulatory response, has raised broader concerns about the enforcement of pharmaceutical marketing rules and ethical standards in Pakistan.
Health Matters investigations are continued.
