Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12937

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

Drug companies reject criticisms
The Age (Melbourne) 2008 Feb 27
http://news.theage.com.au/drug-companies-reject-criticisms/20080227-1v70.htm

Full text:

Doctors’ participation in controversial “educational” functions run by drug companies is in the best interests of patients, the pharmaceutical industry says.

The industry is moving to head off criticism of its promotional practices as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) prepares to release its initial report on a revised code governing drug companies dealings with doctors.

The code which was developed by Medicines Australia, the industry’s national association, governs the activities of companies when they promote prescription medicines to doctors.

Medicines Australia says a “very large” number of events was conducted during the period – July to December 31 2007 – covered by the ACCC’s first report.

“The number and aggregated cost of reported educational events are likely to be significant,” chief executive Ian Chalmers wrote in an open letter published in two doctors’ magazines.

“This is to be expected given the importance of medicines in the fight against disease.

“Healthcare decisions affecting every Australian should be properly informed by the legitimate, valuable, ethical and necessary dialogue between those who make medicines and those who prescribe them.”

Mr Chalmers said the hospitality provided had to be in accordance with Medicines Australia’s code of conduct which set a “high ethical standard”.

The publication of the report would not imply that the practice was “in any way improper,” he said.

“We believe doctors’ participation in such educational events is legitimate and in the best interests of patients.”

Mr Chalmers said reporting of the functions would not impinge on the privacy of doctors as names would not be published.

The Australian Medical Association had earlier raised concerns that naming doctors could discourage them from attending events.

The ACCC ruled last year there was a risk that benefits doctors receive – including travel, accommodation and entertainment -could influence prescriptions in ways that were “not relevant to patient welfare”.

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said the enhanced transparency of the revised code would improve pharmaceutical companies’ accountability.

The code regulates matters such as drug company sponsorship of medical conferences, the payment of travel and accommodation expenses of doctors attending such conferences and the provision of other forms of hospitality.

Medicines Australia had argued unsuccessfully its code of conduct was sufficient.

Revision of the code followed allegations that Swiss drug giant Roche paid thousands of dollars to provide lavish meals to doctors at several of Australia’s top restaurants.

In one case, Roche apparently spent more than $65,000 taking more than 200 top cancer specialists and others to dinner at the exclusive Bennelong restaurant,inside the Sydney Opera House.

An article in the British Medical Journal accused the company of breaching the industry code of conduct, which stated company-sponsored meals should be “simple and modest”.

Australian Medical Association president Rosanna Capolingua said it was in patients’ best interests doctors are fully informed about new or improved use of medicines.

“New and improved medicines save lives and improve the quality of life for Australians with illness,” Dr Capolingua said.

“Pharmaceutical companies who research and develop medicines have the most extensive information about a therapeutic drug, including its benefits and possible side-effects, and pass on this information at education seminars.

“It is a great advantage for doctors who attend these education seminars to be able to interrogate the manufacturers of the medicine, discuss and look at the data, and gain knowledge before prescribing it for their patients.”

Dr Capolingua said the AMA supported the Medicines Australia code of conduct as the best way to prevent pharmaceutical companies engaging in inappropriate marketing.