Healthy Skepticism Library item: 7831

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: Journal Article

Ellen EF.
Visits From Pharmaceutical Reps
Psychiatric Times 2001 Jan; 18:(1):
http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/p010121.html

Abstract:

Visits from pharmaceutical representatives to psychiatrists have increased over the past two years. So have marketing budgets and the number of industry-sponsored events that feature doctors as guest experts.

Sales calls on psychiatrists rose 5% from October 1998 to October 1999 and are expected to rise roughly 3% this year, according to Jody Fisher, a product manager with the independent pharmaceutical marketing firm Scott-Levin. Translated into drug company revenue, psychiatrists are projected to generate approximately $8.2 billion in retail prescription sales, up from $7.4 billion the previous year.

According to company figures, psychiatrists were the fifth most detailed specialty in a field of 31 doctor groups surveyed in 1998 and 1999. Drug companies spent more than $335 million on details to psychiatrists in 1999, up from nearly $300 million in 1998 and close to $265 million the year before. Detail-related spending on psychiatrists ranked fourth overall…

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