Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16694

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

Ziganshina LE
Putin criticises drug companies for paying doctors to prescribe their drugs
BMJ 2009 Oct 16; 339:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/339/oct16_2/b4200

Abstract:

Russia’s prime minister, Vladimir Putin, has criticised drug companies for allegedly paying health professionals to prescribe their products, a practice that he describes as “impossible to tolerate.”

He made his remarks at a meeting of drug manufacturers in Zelenograd, at which companies discussed the industry’s development strategy up to 2020.

Mr Putin said that in the past decade a close, and at times unhealthy, relationship has built up between drug manufacturers and some members of the medical profession.

He said that drug companies have the right to advertise their products, but they have to do so in a way that complies with universally recognised ethical norms and Russian legislation.

He called for a legislative ban on payments by drug companies to doctors for prescribing their products and for the introduction of tougher, stricter norms of medical ethics.

“We should get rid of . . . pharmaceutical representatives, who work in . . .