Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20051

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

Arthur I
Cut back drug promotions
Medical Observer 2004 Dec 1019

Full text:

Editior: If the federal government is serious about looking at ways of slowing the escalating costs of prescription drugs, it should consider regulating the cosy relationship that exists between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry.

I have spoken to medical colleagues who will only see pharmaceutical representatives if they take them out to breakfast or provide lunch. Other colleagues boast about their all-expense-paid trips to Saigon or the Blue Mountains where they were wined and dined in five-star hotels and attended sponsored conferences.

Most representatives bring morning teas for the staff and free samples for the doctors on every visit to the surgery to ingratiate themselves with the receptionists and the doctors.

The reason for this largesse is to promote the latest whiz-bang expensive drug that often has little or no advantage over older tried-and-tested drugs.

The government should consider banning pharmaceutical from providing doctors with any inducements to prescribe their medications; this ban should include free samples, free gifts and food, travel and accommodation expenses.

The pharmaceutical companies could use the money saved on drug promotions to reduce their prices. Watch out for flying pigs.

Dr Ian Arthur
Toormina, NSW