Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15011

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

Coutts G.
Relationships with the drug industry: Collaboration to improve care
BMJ. 2009 Feb 3; 338:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/338/feb03_2/b232

Abstract:

The relationship between the drug industry, academia, healthcare professionals, and patients has reached an all time low and few doubt that it is in the interests of all parties to improve it. A recent report from the Royal College of Physicians attempts to define a path towards achieving a more productive relationship. Here we set out five contrasting views on what the ideal relationship between industry and prescribers and patients should be and what steps need to be taken to achieve it.

Full text:

Healthcare professionals and patients need to have the most up to date information on all the treatment options available to them, including medicines. There is therefore a legitimate place for a responsible relationship between the drug industry and the NHS, prescribers, and patients. This relationship should support the promotion of good medical care, improve health outcomes, and reduce health inequalities. It should include the provision of information to guide valid patient choice.

Prescribers

Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists all receive rigorous training, and patients demand a high degree of medical and pharmacological knowledge from them. Despite this, there are those who would deny healthcare professionals access to the drug industry, which researched and undertook the clinical trials to develop the medicines.

It is paradoxical that some do not consider doctors capable of separating good information from bad. Relations with industry have changed in recent years. The appropriately derided medical conference junket culture . . .