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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


7.10.2008

 

No more pens and pads

Got an email first thing this morning from PhRMA, the association for the drug manufacturers. It follows stories that have appeared this week about the annual report on spending by drug companies on marketing and education -- money paid primarily to Vermont doctors. Drug manufacturers spent $3.1 million in Vermont during a 12-month period that ended a year ago. That doesn't count free samples, drug rebates or scholarships to educational programs.

Anyway, the email declared that PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America) had revised its "code on interactions with health care professionals." The new code takes effect in January.

PhRMA doesn't like Vermont's disclosure law. Ken Johnson, senior vice president, said in a statement issued earlier in the week that it discouraged important interaction between doctors and pharmaceutical representatives -- collaboration and education. This morning's email elaborates on his argument. "Providing physicians with up-to-date, accurate information about the medicines they prescribe clearly improves patient care and advances health care in general. Pharmaceutical research companies that discover and develop new medicines are the most knowledgeable about their products and are in the best position to inform health care professional about a wide range of topics related to these medicines, including new treatment options, appropriate dosing, emerging safety development and potential interactions with other drugs."

Ken Libertoff, executive director of the Vermont Association for Mental Health, worries that drug companies promote sales to enhance the bottom line more than educate. That's why he objects to doctors taking drug money and is calling for a statewide weaning -- by individual docs, hospitals, the medical school, and advocacy groups. His own organization went cold turkey a year ago. The Vermont Medical Society takes no drug dollars and neither does the Vermont Psychiatric Association -- but Vermont doctors do accept the dollars.

So in the wake of stories about the increasing amount of money being spent in Vermont on "marketing" and Libertoff's call to "just say no," PhRMA sends this email with its new responsible marketing guidelines.

1. No more promotional items such as pens, mugs and other "reminder objects" with company logos. Such items, although of minimal value, "may foster misperceptions that company interactions with health care professional are not based on informing them about medical and scientific issues."
2. No more free lunch, meaning no restaurant meals, but companies can help pay for occasional meals at the offices of health professionals in conjunction with informational presentations. Further, the code says companies shouldn't provide any entertainment or recreational benefits to health care professionals.
3. Companies are supposed to ensure their staff know the rules of ethical conduct and PhRMA suggests they check up periodically.
4. PhRMA asks companies to promise to abide by the code and have their top officials certify each year that they are.

My, the times they are a changin'.

Libertoff called the drug companies giants, but it looks like people like him and Vermont's disclosure law have put some pebbles in the giants' shoes. The last line of PhRMA's email identifies the "blister" that's developing. The changes in the code and the drug companies' "acceptance" of proposed federal legislation shining a light on physician payments "reflect PhRMA's position that appropriate transparency in relationships with health care professionals can help build and maintain patient trust in the health care system." There is it -- the looming problem -- patient or public trust.

So, is Libertoff right? Should docs swear off all drug company dollars?Or is the PhRMA spokesman right that who better to talk about a drug than a representative of the company who developed it? Or a local doctor who has had some experience with a medication? (hence the speaker fee)

-- Nancy Remsen

Comments:
Seriously, when will the Free Press stand up and hold itself accountable for the inaccurate post that Sam put up the other day??

He relied on a bad source and got burned. Can't he just fess up? Isn't that the right thing to do?

Why not?
 
Write a letter to the BFP editor, spelling out your point about Hemingway's error and see if they run it. The only drawback is you can no longer hide behind "anon" in here. And posting in here really gets you nowhere with what I agree is a justifiable request.
 
This is where Sam posted the false information. I don't see why he shouldn't get the feedback here.

Plus, I doubt that they'll ever publish that letter to the editor. At least here, the fact that Sam posted inaccurate information gets out.
 
Who does Ken's hair?
 
Geraldine Ferraro is an interesting person. This week I spoke with her on the telephone for 25 minutes and found her to be absolutely delightful. I was living the interviewer's dream. Mrs. Ferraro is open, honest, and undeniably out spoken.

I also spoke with Newt Gingrich. You can read both conversations at New Wineskins Magazine.

-------------------------------------------------------

Here's what others are saying about the conversations.

"I'm not a big political animal, but this interview with Geraldine Ferraro was really interesting to me; getting the insider point of view – and from someone who seems to have no fear of being outspoken."

"Wow, this is huge!"


-------------------------------------------------------
Read the conversations here
 
C'mon Sam. Time to fess up. It won't hurt. I promise.
 
How many people on this board would like Pollina's mom to give it up and stop asking Sam for a retraction?

Mrs. P...get a clue no one cares. Get a hobby, please.
 
Using Pollina's Slogan...

We Can Do Better THAN Pollina!

Vote Symington!
 
Go Douglas!
 
Governor DoesLess!
 
JIM = LessJobs!
 
Douglas hands out bonuses to his senior staffers while cut front line state workers - just like the Wall St Money Folks!
 
Go Pollina - he can get some thing done
 
I got a bonus from the guv, and I can't believe how much less it was than my colleagues. I must suck at my job.
 
Go Douglas!
 
To Hades in a hand basket!
 
Go Douglas!
 
I don't think anyone should post false information especially this this. What happened is not right. Sam is answerable to this.
-------------------
Shapur
Vermont Drug Treatment
 
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