Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4142

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Sweeney GD.
A submission to the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario on the relationship between the faculty and the Canadian pharmaceutical industry
1990 May

Abstract:

In our technological society, tighter links are being forged between universities and industry. In faculties of health sciences and medicine these links are principally with the pharmaceutical industry. On the one hand this represents healthy inter-dependence, but on the other, there is concern that links between the Faculty of Health Sciences and the pharmaceutical industry may distort the education of health professionals to better serve the industry’s marketing strategies. Links between the pharmaceutical industry and academic centres of medicine provide for the clinical trials which are an essential part of new drug development. However, two types of research linkage exist. The first, is scientific research of high quality which is entirely consistent with the goals and mission of the Faculty of Health Sciences. The second, embraces studies where there is concern that promotional and marketing goals of the industry are subservient to scientific goals despite the fact that all research studies on investigational new drugs follow protocols approved by the Bureau of Prescription Drugs of Health & Welfare Canada. Pressure to participate in this type of work are considerable. Relationships between the pharmaceutical industry and the education programs of the Faculty of Health Sciences can be considered first for pre-clerkship medical students, second for the clinical clerks, interns and residents, who work in the post-graduate training environment, and last for continuing medical education and the academic activities of the faculty itself. Both the faculty and the students themselves have taken a strong stand in limiting involvement with the pharmaceutical industry. However, during the clerkship and the years of postgraduate training, representatives from the drug industry are present on a fairly regular basis at teaching events with financial support for speakers, meals and refreshments. These activities are not different from the promotion of pharmaceutical agents to which all physicians are exposed on an ongoing basis. While it is the responsibility of our facult to ensure that our students and housestaff are adequately trained in Clinical Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Critical Appraisal to put promotion in the proper context, advertising is effective and is supported by resources the Faculty cannot match. The Continuing Medical Education programs offered by the Faculty are funded significantly by the pharmaceutical industry. Industry support is also provided selectively for the academic activities of clinical departments.

Keywords:
*analysis/Canada/students/attitude toward promotion/ attitude toward industry/ CME/ continuing medical education/ corporate funding/ drug company sponsored research/ drug company sponsored meals and travel/ McMaster University/ relationship between medical profession and industry/ relationship between researchers, academic institutions and industry/ relationship between physicians in training and industry/ physicians in training/ sales representatives/ seeding studies/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: MEDICAL EDUCATORS/EDUCATING ABOUT PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSION STUDENTS/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: LINKS BETWEEN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND INDUSTRY/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT/PROMOTION DISGUISED: CLINICAL TRIALS/PROMOTION DISGUISED: SUPPORT FOR CME/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: CONTACT WITH MEDICAL STUDENTS AND HOSPITAL STAFF/SPONSORSHIP: RESEARCH