Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9642

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

McCarthy R.
Dingell subcommittee would ban physical sampling
American Druggist 1986 Jun; 193:12, 17

Abstract:

Major provisions of the proposed Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1986 are presented. The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee reporting on drug diversion and related matters unanimously agreed on the proposed drug sampling legislation, whereby manufacturers would supply physicians with coupons, which patients would redeem at pharmacies for free starter doses and which pharmacies would forward to manufacturers for reimbursement. All the manufacturers remain adamantly opposed to any system of sampling and are in favor of banning the reimportation of pharmaceuticals and making the resale of samples a felony. The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association favors a stronger code of behavior governing the distribution of samples such as requiring that samples be supplied only at the written request of the physicians.