Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5626

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

Moynihan R.
Doctor treats to be disclosed
The Australian Newspaper 2006 Jul 26
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19914938-23289,00.html

Notes:

Ralph Faggotter’s Comments:

“But AMA national president Mukesh Haikerwal strongly defended the lavish meals, saying he was concerned the “spartan fare which is often out there is putting some doctors off attending educational activities”.
He said drug company dinners “oiled the wheels” of medical education and that $200-a-head meals were appropriate, rather than doctors “slumming somewhere in a budget chain motel”. “

Once again the AMA supports the indefensible while revealing a lack of understanding of the power of the pharmaceutical industry’s lavish ‘educational dinners’ have in inappropriately influencing medical prescribing.

Full text:

Doctor treats to be disclosed
Ray Moynihan
July 26, 2006
DRUG company gifts to doctors, including lavish meals and free trips, will soon have to be fully declared to patients and the public, under a tough new regulatory approach being considered by the consumer watchdog.

Last Friday, The Australian revealed that Swiss drug giant Roche had taken almost 300 doctors to a $200-a-head meal at the Sydney Opera House, a form of gift defended by the company and the Australian Medical Association, but described as a bribe by the federal Opposition.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is reviewing the drug industry’s self-regulatory code of conduct, which is supposed to control such inducements to doctors.

In an interview with The Australian last night, ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel refused to discuss details of a tough new approach, but said the commission wanted “disclosure, transparency and thus accountability in relation to the provision of medical education and associated benefits”.

Asked whether doctors should receive $200-a-head meals from drug companies, he said: “Consumers should be able to have confidence that decisions made by their doctors are made solely having regard to their best interest, without any potential for influence by benefits or perks.”

According to experts on drug company promotions, lavish wining and dining is still widespread in Australia.

Opposition spokesman for consumer affairs and health regulation Laurie Ferguson, who wrote to the ACCC following the report in The Australian, said he believed the watchdog might be about to take a more “hardline approach”. He described the lavish meals as “outrageous” and said they could be perceived as bribery and corruption.

The drug industry’s national body, Medicines Australia, would not comment on whether Roche’s $200-a-head dinners were in line with the code’s requirement that meals be “simple and modest”, saying that decision would be for an independent committee that judges complaints.

But AMA national president Mukesh Haikerwal strongly defended the lavish meals, saying he was concerned the “spartan fare which is often out there is putting some doctors off attending educational activities”.

He said drug company dinners “oiled the wheels” of medical education and that $200-a-head meals were appropriate, rather than doctors “slumming somewhere in a budget chain motel”.

Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott was unavailable for comment last night.