Senator takes aim at Big Pharma influence
Big Pharma is so shameful in its attempts to influence doctors, I wonder sometimes if its drug reps could look a cyclops in the eye. Fortunately, there appears to be someone in Congress who is finally willing to do something about it.
Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa is putting together a bill to require drug makers to report all payments to docs. Grassley is a mover and shaker – and a bit of a country boy, like yours truly – but I wish him a lot of luck. The drug lobby will be out in force.
But it's another sign that folks are waking up to the notion that the relationships between drug companies and docs need to be brought under control.
Last summer, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America revised its "Code on Interactions with Health-care Professionals" to ban the donation of non-educational gifts, such as pens and mugs, taking docs to dinner and slipping them tickets for shows or ballgames.
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies is also talking about developing a new policy on interactions between drug reps and docs.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is trying to attack the problem at the source. It only lets in drug company reps if they get a perfect score on an online training protocol. Of course, they're only testing knowledge – not ethics or sincerity.
At any rate, strides are being made – even if the pace is slow. Let's hope Sen. Grassley has some luck with his newest initiative and that it doesn't receive the silent death sentence that is the fate of too many well-meaning bills.
