Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20055

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

Anastasopoulos C
ADGP spruiks for 'party plan' role
Australian Doctor 2006 Sep 16

Full text:

THE divisions network is offering to organise venue arrangements and catering on behalf of drug companies planning GP educational events.

The push into a new ‘party planning’ role was outlined by the ADGP last week in an attempt to take the heat out of the ongoing row over the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and doctors.

In a letter to industry lobby group Medicines Australia, the ADGP said divisions were well placed to provide “transparent governance” by organising educational events “within agreed protocols” that would involve developing training calendars and programs, inviting doctors to events and arranging catering.

And divisions could provide reports to Medicines Australia on the costs involved as well as ensuring the accreditation of CPD events with the relevant medical colleges.

“The model aims to restore public faith in both the medical profession and pharmaceutical companies,” the letter stated.

“Divisions would effectively act as the intermediary in this model, giving the community, the media and the government confidence that the code [of conduct] is being complied with and that undue influence is not being brought to bear on doctors.”

The move comes after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission demanded that drug companies publicly list details of all events laid on for doctors, including individual doctor’s specialty, the type of entertainment provided and the cost of meals under a revised industry code of conduct.

Medicines Australia has described the new requirements as bureaucratic and unworkable, and has appealed the ACCC decision.

AMA president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal said he was concerned the ADGP proposal could backfire by adding to the media and community speculation that doctors were “captives of the drug sector”.

“It may feed that thought and I think the move is unnecessary,” he said.