Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16535

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: news

Metherell M
Medical companies on notice
The Age 2009 Sep 24
http://www.theage.com.au/national/medical-companies-on-notice-20090923-g2oc.html

Full text:

MEDICAL device companies accused of lavishing doctors with inducements to win business have been warned by Health Minister Nicola Roxon to desist or face tougher government regulation.

In a stern address to a medical technology conference, Ms Roxon has also warned health professionals against the unquestioning use of the ‘‘flashiest’‘ new gadgets – a practice contributing to the surge in health costs.

In the wake of revelations in The Age, Ms Roxon said she was keen to see leadership from the industry in how it responded to the reports that some medical device companies were offering inducements in return for the purchase of the company’s products.

She said it was incumbent on the industry to follow the highest standards in its interaction with doctors.

The Government supports self-regulation in the industry through codes of conduct.

‘‘I am not currently inclined to move towards government oversight, but it remains an option if standards are not kept to the highest level,’‘ Ms Roxon said.

The parliamentary secretary for health, Mark Butler, has called for further investigation into the marketing tactics of some companies.

Medical devices including drug-eluting stents to fix diseased arteries and artificial joints have also come under scrutiny for, in some cases, costing significantly more but offering little or no advantage over cheaper, older models.

Ms Roxon said one of the main drivers in the steadily rising expense of health services was the increasing cost of medical technology. ‘‘Yet the community and health professionals can often be drawn to the flashiest technologies.’‘

The Government wanted patients to have the best, but value for money was essential.

‘‘At present, value for money for the Government or health insurers is often not a consideration when medicines or technologies are being chosen.’‘

She said the Government did not want to intervene in clinical decision-making, but all heavily funded professions had to exercise responsibility in guiding their clinical choices.