Doctors Running Pharmacies

This is unethical practice.I am not referring to dispensing section of a family doctor.He charges a total sum for consultation and medicament.It is age old practice.
The problem arises when the consultants run pharmacies.These are run in the most unethical manner.Some drugs prescribed are available only in his pharmacy.They are sold at exorbitant prices.He prescribes by brand and insists that the patient uses it.Patient has no alternative other than purchasing it from the pharmacy run by the consultant.Only less informed peolple are victimised.But it so happens that even the educated people are not aware that there is no differnce between different brands of the same drug.Some of these drugs are not even registered Sri Lankan Drug authority.It is violation of Cosmetics Drugs and Devices Act to sell these drugs.
The ironical thing is one of these pharmacies is run in a channelling center at a stones throw distance from the Drug Regulatory Authority.It is owned by a medial consultant employed by the Ministry of Health