The relationships between drug companies and doctors, researchers and academics are set for a huge shakeup if a powerful medical group has its way.

The Association of American Medical Colleges, an umbrella group representing over a hundred medical schools, has just released a report calling for a ban on all gifts, and a winding back of the wining and dining that passes so often for “education.”

The report finds in recent decades “medical schools and teaching hospitals have become increasingly dependent on industry support for their core educational missions.”

It calls for an end to all gift-giving, a ban on ghost-writing, and an end to drug and device-makers providing free food at “educational” events, not accredited by professional bodies.

It also urges medical schools to stop staff becoming paid hacks: “Academic medical centres should strongly discourage participation by their faculty in industry-sponsored speakers’ bureaus.”

Perhaps the most significant call is for a new form of “objective” medical education, which may open the door to a new system free of direct industry funding.

Crikey asked the Australian Medical Association for comment on the new report, and whether it remained comfortable doctors were attending 30 000 “educational” events sponsored by industry annually. The AMA declined to comment.

Do you think pharma holds too much sway over Australian doctors, medical education and research?