Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20056

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

Hope A
Selling out
Australian Doctor 2006 Sep 2923

Full text:

Editor I hope AMA president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal is correct in thinking that the ADGP’s proposed formalising of relationships between drug companies and divisions will “feed the thought” that doctors are “captives of the drug sector”, (‘ADGP spruiks for ‘party plan’ role’, 1 September) because it is clear to me that this is the case already. The citizenry, which ultimately foots the bill, should indeed know all about it.

It is already some years since the excess of the companies were curtailed by the (pharma-controlled) regulatory body, Medicines Australia. Involvement by the ACCC at this stage implies there has been increasing public knowledge and concern, which it is only now responding to.

Divisions have the potential to provide continuing therapeutics education for GPs that is free of the taint of compromise. It would be interesting to run a survey to see how many, if any, take advantage of the opportunity. My local division used to have such a policy but reversed it some time ago.

Formalising the role of divisions in money-laundering the profits derived from the PBS will further muddy waters, rather than achieving “transparent governance”, as claimed by the ADGP. Drug companies sponsor events because they see commercial advantage in doing so. Why is our profession, at times so high-minded, so keen to sell out on this issue for a mess of pottage (or should that read sponsored prawn cocktails)?

Dr Alex Hope
Ltyentye Apurts Community Government Council Health Centre,
CMB Santa Teresa, NT