Drugmakers plan new rules to cut perks for doctors

[Guest guest]

Drugmakers plan new rules to cut perks for doctors

By Toni e and Ransdell Pierson

NEW YORK, Apr 19 (Reuters) - The wining and dining of doctors by

pharmaceutical sales reps may be drawing to an end, amid rising concern

that physicians are prescribing drugs based on rewards rather than

scientific merit.

US and European drugmakers are revising their codes of ethics to ban

their drug reps from paying doctors for such entertainment as golf

outings, Broadway plays and baseball games, according to a person

familiar with the discussions.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) plans

to implement the new code by July 1, the person said. Under the new

guidelines, sales reps will no longer be able to pay for sporting events

or other entertainment. Dinners will be capped at about $75 per doctor

and require the presence of a third party--an expert on the topic under

discussion.

" There has been much attention paid recently to company marketing

practices and we are certainly aware of the criticism, " said

Trewhitt, a spokesman for PhRMA. " We think there are some very valid

concerns and as an industry we are looking at ways to address them. "

Trewhitt would not comment when asked about the current discussions.

Similar codes of ethics have been in place in the drug industry since

1990. PhRMA and the American Medical Association drafted guidelines

after legal action was taken against several drug companies for blatant

bribery attempts, such as issuing frequent flyer miles in return for

prescriptions.

The latest revisions are an attempt to put teeth into regulations that

have become all but irrelevant, industry experts said. The American

Medical Association is taking similar steps, and spending $1 million, to

dust off its own rules.

" It has become clear in folks' minds that a lot of people have come into

the industry since 1990 when the guidelines were approved and aren't as

up to speed as they should be, " said , assistant medical

director at Ohio State University Hospital and a member of the AMA's

working group on gifts to doctors.

A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit health

research group, found that 61% of doctors claimed to have received

meals, tickets to events or free travel. Of the $15.7 billion drug

companies spent promoting drugs in 2000, $13.2 billion went to

promotions targeting physicians, the report said.

Some viewed the drug industry's plans with skepticism.

" The problem is the AMA and PhRMA haven't made efforts to determine

which abuses are going on or to punish violators, " said Sidney Wolfe,

head of the health research group at Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog

group. o Costa, chief executive of Novartis AG's US drug unit, said

his firm allows sales people to give the occasional free doughnut to

doctors, but bans expensive gifts.

" How can you justify a drug company taking doctors to a basketball game

or a golf outing? Why do we need to do it when it provides little

benefit to doctors but leaves drug companies open for criticism. "

The incentives the drug industry provides can be lavish.

" A few weeks ago I was asked by a pharma company to be an advisor at a

seminar, " said Dr. Rene Mora, a pulmonary and critical care medicine

physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. " They

offered to pay for my flight, put me up at a hotel, feed me and pay me

an honorarium. They even invited my wife.

" That type of stuff, where physicians are getting free vacations or

trips, that's where a lot of people say you've got to draw the line, " he

said.

(With additional reporting by Jed Seltzer and Bill Berkrot).

[Guest guest]

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's about time!!!

a

[ ] Drugmakers plan new rules to cut perks for doctors

> Drugmakers plan new rules to cut perks for doctors

>

> By Toni e and Ransdell Pierson

>

> NEW YORK, Apr 19 (Reuters) - The wining and dining of doctors by

> pharmaceutical sales reps may be drawing to an end, amid rising concern

> that physicians are prescribing drugs based on rewards rather than

> scientific merit.

>

> US and European drugmakers are revising their codes of ethics to ban

> their drug reps from paying doctors for such entertainment as golf

> outings, Broadway plays and baseball games, according to a person

> familiar with the discussions.

>

> The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) plans

> to implement the new code by July 1, the person said. Under the new

> guidelines, sales reps will no longer be able to pay for sporting events

> or other entertainment. Dinners will be capped at about $75 per doctor

> and require the presence of a third party--an expert on the topic under

> discussion.

>

> " There has been much attention paid recently to company marketing

> practices and we are certainly aware of the criticism, " said

> Trewhitt, a spokesman for PhRMA. " We think there are some very valid

> concerns and as an industry we are looking at ways to address them. "

> Trewhitt would not comment when asked about the current discussions.

>

> Similar codes of ethics have been in place in the drug industry since

> 1990. PhRMA and the American Medical Association drafted guidelines

> after legal action was taken against several drug companies for blatant

> bribery attempts, such as issuing frequent flyer miles in return for

> prescriptions.

>

> The latest revisions are an attempt to put teeth into regulations that

> have become all but irrelevant, industry experts said. The American

> Medical Association is taking similar steps, and spending $1 million, to

> dust off its own rules.

>

> " It has become clear in folks' minds that a lot of people have come into

> the industry since 1990 when the guidelines were approved and aren't as

> up to speed as they should be, " said , assistant medical

> director at Ohio State University Hospital and a member of the AMA's

> working group on gifts to doctors.

>

> A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit health

> research group, found that 61% of doctors claimed to have received

> meals, tickets to events or free travel. Of the $15.7 billion drug

> companies spent promoting drugs in 2000, $13.2 billion went to

> promotions targeting physicians, the report said.

>

> Some viewed the drug industry's plans with skepticism.

>

> " The problem is the AMA and PhRMA haven't made efforts to determine

> which abuses are going on or to punish violators, " said Sidney Wolfe,

> head of the health research group at Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog

> group. o Costa, chief executive of Novartis AG's US drug unit, said

> his firm allows sales people to give the occasional free doughnut to

> doctors, but bans expensive gifts.

>

> " How can you justify a drug company taking doctors to a basketball game

> or a golf outing? Why do we need to do it when it provides little

> benefit to doctors but leaves drug companies open for criticism. "

>

> The incentives the drug industry provides can be lavish.

>

> " A few weeks ago I was asked by a pharma company to be an advisor at a

> seminar, " said Dr. Rene Mora, a pulmonary and critical care medicine

> physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. " They

> offered to pay for my flight, put me up at a hotel, feed me and pay me

> an honorarium. They even invited my wife.

>

> " That type of stuff, where physicians are getting free vacations or

> trips, that's where a lot of people say you've got to draw the line, " he

> said.

>

> (With additional reporting by Jed Seltzer and Bill Berkrot).

>

>

>

>

>