The Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations was recently amended regarding the relationship between doctors and professional associations of doctors and the pharmaceutical and allied health sector industry. Many of these amendments are not practical. For example, how many readers of this journal have not accepted a single gift from pharmaceutical companies? All of us accept at least a ball point pen. Likewise, very few of us have attended conferences and continuing medical education programmes spending money from our own pockets. Pharmaceutical companies will continue the same practices but unofficially. And many senior physicians will continue to accept sponsored holidays.