E-DRUG: Drug promotion & (ir)rational prescribing (contd)
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Dear colleagues,
In various hospitals they already tried to close doors - to
"Med Rep"-, but even if you control the "front door" quite
intesively, the "back doors" are always clear for this type
of business. In Spain, at least, drug companies are the
source of extra funding for "serious things" (like buying a
new computer for the Department, or attending the Nat/Int
meeting of the Medical Professional Association); or for
"leisure things" ("interesting promotional meetings on new
drugs in fancy touristic resort places....)
How much are the Health Authorities able or willing to pay
to doctors for these "serious things"?. More or much less
than Drugs Companies ?. Are we (they) trying to change
behaviour, and, thus, reduce trips and useful rewards just
for free?. Hardly any program aimed to a more "rational use
of drugs" will be ever succesful without some money investments
from the interested parties (Health Authorities, Educators..)
but this is normally neglected.
I recommend a video called "Good morning, Mrs. Dealer" produced,
some few years ago, by the Regional Office of WHO for Europe in
Copenhagen, under the direction of Graham Dukes, interpreting,
in fact, the main character. It is a 20' play of a "standard"
visit of a Medical Representative, with an accompanying
booklet for promoting discussion with the students. We use that
every year with terrific results.
Prof. Emilio J. Sanz, MD, PhD
University of La Laguna.
Tenerife. Spain
Email: esanz@ull.es
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