Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18782

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

Musial A
U.S. figures don’t apply here
The Toronto Star 2010 Oct 20
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters/article/881507--u-s-figures-don-t-apply-here

Full text:

Re: Study ties drug firm promotions to bad health, Oct. 20

Reporter Joseph Hall states, “Physicians’ exposure to drug company
promotions can cause patients physical and financial suffering and
provides no benefits to prescribing practices, a York University study
shows.” But the article deals solely with U.S. rather than Canadian
numbers.

Monies spent on the promotional activities of pharmaceutical companies
in Ontario have been heavily scrutinized by government and
incorporated into health professional laws.

Curtailing funds for continuing education and other similar
educational incentives for health professionals will in fact have the
opposite effect to what Hall states. It will be detrimental to patient
health outcomes.