[e-drug] Drug companies and medical profession

e-drug
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E-DRUG: Drug companies and medical profession
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Drug companies and medical profession

The increasing trends by the drug industry to co-opt, the medical profession are a well known phenomenon. Most of the promotion is done through the Indian Medical Association - the largest association of doctors in India. This is to bring to the notice of readers a first hand example of how the drug industry in India has reached even the remotest corner.
Please click at the link given below for an invitation to local Indian Medical Association by a drug company, M /s ABBOT INDIA LIMITED to conduct the General Body Meeting of the IMA local Branch at Ranebennur - a small town in the state of Karnataka, India.

http://picasaweb.google.com/drdabade/IMARNR

For more details about this please feel free to contact:
Dr S L Pawar, Near Head Post Office, Ranebennur 581115, Karnataka, India. Email id pawarsl@gmail.com, mobile number +91(0)9449354415
www.novartisboycott.org

Dr Gopal Dabade,
57, Tejaswinagar,
Dharwad 580 002
Tel 0836-2461722
Cell (0)9448862270
www.jagruti.org
www.aidanindia.org
www.daf-k.cjb.net

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E-DRUG: Drug companies and medical profession (2)
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There is total nexus between professional associations of doctors and drug companies in India. Nearly all medical associations are provided funds and other favours by the pharmaceutical industry in return for prescriptions, favourable results of clinical trials, endorsements (illegal but rampant), "ghost" writings etc. Here are some recent examples (US $ = Indian Rs. 43):

* The Indian Medical Association requested major drug companies to become 'Principal Sponsor' of its All India Conference by paying a whopping Rs. 7.5 millions. The Company could also become 'Full Day Sponsor' by paying Rs. 2.5 millions. Funds were sought to feed the participants at the rate of Rs. 1 million for each lunch and Rs. 1.5 million for the banquet.

* Indian College of Interventional Cardiology asked for Rs. 0.5 million for placing a banner in the main hall.

* Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine sought Rs. 1.5 millions for being given the "honour" of the 'Principal Sponsor', Rs. 0.5 millions for each lunch and Rs. 1 million for banquet.

* The Maharashtra (Sate) Branch of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists sought Rs. 500,000 to designate a company as the 'Main Sponsor of the Conference.'�

* The Indian Orthopaedic Association asked Rs. 1 million from a company towards 'Sponsorship of the Main Hall'�whatever it means. For each meal the companies were asked to pay Rs. 0.8 millions.

* National College of Chest Physicians/Indian Chest Society sought Rs. 1.5 millions for three lunches and 1.7 millions for two dinners for its conference in Ahmedabad.

* Indian Association of Surgical Oncology wanted Rs. 0.4 millions from any company that wanted to become 'Principal Sponsor.'�

* Indian Association for Cardio Vascular-Thoracic Surgeons sought Rs. 1,00,000 for "an opportunity to any company to introduce its product in 7 minutes."

* Indian Clinical Epidemiological Network that held a conference in Agra sought Rs. 1,00,000 to take participants from Delhi to see Tajmahal in Agra 'for augmenting Quality of Hospitality.' Another Rs. 1,00,000 were sought to serve 'A Glass of Beer/Wine during Dinners and Banquets.'�

* Three companies namely Organon (India) Ltd, Indo-French Marketing Company and Universal Biomedics were the principal financiers of National Association of Sexology Conference.

Here are some Quotable Quotes from letters written by medical associations to drug companies:

* There is always a 'lose bondage between the medical profession and pharmaceutical industries' wrote Organising Secretary of the Cardiological Society of India seeking funds from the drug companies.

* 'Financial support from industries is mandatory to make Annual Conference of Cardio Vascular-Thoracic Surgeons successful' Organizing Secretary.

* The sponsorship of the toilet (Clock Room) will be Rs. 1,00,000 while Baloons will cost Rs. 1,00,000 each. - Organising Secretary, National Conference on Pulmonary Diseases.

* An article on a product of interest to your Company can be published in the Souvenir on payment of Rs. 1,00,000 - Editor, All India Medical Association's (IMA) Conference.

Dr. Chandra M. Gulhati
Editor, MIMS
(Monthly Index of Medical Specialities)
e-mail: indianmims@yahoo.co.in
seeemgee@yahoo.co.uk

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E-DRUG: Drug companies and medical profession (3)
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Dear Dr. Chandra Gulhati

It's always interesting to read some factual reports on how medical
professions are associated with drug companies. Almost all clinically
oriented medical professions of India are now dependent on drug companies
for setting up their official meetings. You are right that a large sum of
money is being provided by these major pharmaceutical companies for the so
called 'successful conferences'. In return, physicians are ready to do
anything either to endorse any medical advertisement or to write 'dictated
prescriptions', 'concocted' papers and other favourable results of any
clinical trials. In older days, physicians of clinical departments were not
like this. Corruption is the root cause of all this nexus. If we see the
'souvenirs' of earlier conferences and seminars of these same professional
organizations, then we hardly find such a major sponsorship.

Syed Ziaur Rahman, MD
Department of Pharmacology
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
AMU, Aligarh 202002, India

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E-DRUG: Drug companies and medical profession (5)
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Dear Dr Gulhati,

Unless we have honesty in our actions, nothing notable, except the muck produced by some of our corrupt NETAs and BABUs, will come out. While we are involved in thievery, we accuse others of dishonesty. In this conection, we have to look at the remarks of Abhinav Bindra, the only Indian Olympic Gold medallist at the Beijing Games, that "the Ministry of Sports treated me as if I was there to cheat the govt". The professionals themselves and their organizations have to improve their conduct and behavior.

Dr PR Pabrai
Former Director, Central Indian Pharmacopoeia Laboratory, Government of India
&
Former Head, Corporate Quality Assurance, Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd
C-568 Sarita Vihar
New Delhi - 110076
Tel: (91)-41402079
Mobile : (91)-09971521230