Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8709

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: report

General Practitioners and commercial sponsorship
: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2006 Dec 8
http://www.racgp.org.au/Content/NavigationMenu/ClinicalResources/RACGPGuidelines/gpcommercial/200612giftspolicy.pdf

Abstract:

Pharmaceutical and other companies offer gifts such as travel expenses to conferences or workshops, software, CD ROMs, notepads and pens to general practitioners to enhance recognition of their products. Gifts may also be offered as reimbursement for time spent with a representative to market products and discuss issues related to therapeutics management. Although the giving of a gift is seen as an act of generosity, gifts are also given out of self interest. Pharmaceutical and other companies give gifts in anticipation that the general practitioner will prescribe their product(s). Overseas, this practice has been subject to increasing scrutiny from medical professionals, consumer advocates and representatives of government. There are a number of cogent arguments for and against the acceptance of gifts from pharmaceutical companies.