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Drugmakers Pulling Plug on Free Pens, Mugs & Pads
Posted on 2008-Aug-6 at 12:48 - Post Comment
Mugs Doctors, it’s time to head to Staples to stock up on pens! Responding to a steady stream of criticism over its efforts to curry favor with doctors, Big Pharma is putting a lid on some of the most visible practices. PhRMA, the drug-industry trade group, says says it’s banning some of the freebies that sales reps dole out to docs, including pens, mugs and logo-laden prescription pads. The move is part of a new, voluntary code of conduct that drugmakers will be encouraged to follow. PhRMA will ask companies to specify in writing that they have the policies in place.“Although our member companies have long been committed to responsible marketing of the life-enhancing and life-saving medicines they develop, we have heard the voices of policymakers, healthcare professionals and others telling us we can do better,” PhRMA CEO Billy Tauzin said in a news release.There are many such voices. Among them: the non-pizza loving Association of American Medical Colleges, academic-money focused Sen. Charles Grassley and sunshine states like Vermont and Minnesota.Still, this won’t put an end to the controversy. For one, it looks like pizza is still allowed. The code says sales reps won’t be able to provide restaurant meals to docs, but can still bring in sustenance to the office occasionally “in conjunction with informational presentations.”
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