Despite the ban on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines, drug companies have plenty of sneaky tricks up their lab-coat sleeves to keep their products in the public eye, writes Dr Agnes Vitry.
Medicines Australia
Baker drug deal found in breach
For every Plavix script in 2009, Sanofi-Aventis agreed to donate 25 cents to support the Baker’s research and health programs. Upshot? A slap on the wrist and a $25,000 fine.
Never mind the politicians, what about funded trips for doctors?
Amidst all the public angst about politicians accepting trips and other gifts, these practices continue unabated amongst the medical profession, writes Melissa Sweet.
Medicines Australia: Time for a crackdown on junkets
There is no reason why appropriate standards of conduct should not be enforceable for all pharmaceutical companies, writes Ian Chalmers.
The ties that bind: how big pharma buys a good press
While efforts are underway in Australia and elsewhere to disentangle the ties between doctors and drug companies (as reported in Crikey yesterday), the spotlight should also be illuminating another influential profession’s conflicts of interest.
