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Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5589

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

Mansfield PR.
Another way to tame the monster
BMJ 2006 Jul 22; 333:(7560):202
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/short/333/7560/202-a?etoc%3e


Abstract:

EDITOR-The Angell-Spence-Godlee proposal to ban pharmaceutical manufacturers from researching their products has considerable merit.1 However, Healthy Skepticism advocates a more comprehensive alternative that will also reduce the harm currently caused by misleading promotion, biased industry funding of education, and high drug prices. Our alternative is also more politically achievable because implementation can be government revenue neutral while securing long term competitive return on investment for the pharmaceutical industry.

Pharmaceutical companies currently have four main functions: manufacturing, research, promotion, and education. Performance of those functions is currently distorted by incentive systems that reward only activities that increase sales of more expensive drugs regardless of the impact on health care. We recommend that the four functions be paid for separately by government agencies via iterative competitive public tender. This would allow the relevant divisions and subcontractors of pharmaceutical companies to compete with universities and non-profit non-governmental organisations for funding . .

 

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There is no sin in being wrong. The sin is in our unwillingness to examine our own beliefs, and in believing that our authorities cannot be wrong. Far from creating cynics, such a story is likely to foster a healthy and creative skepticism, which is something quite different from cynicism.”
- Neil Postman in The End of Education