Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20022

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: Magazine

Rayner F
Call for rep scrutiny
Australian Doctor 2004 Apr 1613

Full text:

Pharmaceutical representatives should have the information they provide to GPs “rubber stamped” by an independent body, a division of general practice representative has argued.

Dr Margo Hoekstra, GP advisor at the Alliance of NSW Divisons, said the move would give GPs the confidence to trust what they were told, rather than feeling they were “selectively provided information” by salespeople.

“If they are going to come and see us they need to present us with all the information [about a drug] and not just bits and pieces”, she said.

Dr Hoekstra said GPs could also take a more proactive approach to meetings and should check the information they were given and ask more questions. She said many doctors regarded meetings with representatives as a break from patients.

Dr Hoekstra, who spoke about GP’s attitudes to drug company salespeople at the recent Australian Pharmaceuticals Summit in Sydney, said that doctors wanted clear, accurate information about the drugs being sold.

“Pharmacy companies need to be seen to be providing information ethically, and the ones who are will win high regard”, she said.

However, Mr Steve Haynes, spokesman for the pharmaceutical industry’s peak body Medicines Australia, said GPs could be assured the information from pharmaceutical representatives was accurate and they were the best people to speak about their products.

“The information provided to GPs is accurate and up to date and based on approved product information from the TGA [Therapeutic Goods Administration]”, he said.
The idea of an independent body would be overkill and unnecessary, he said.