Speaker programs are frustrating sales reps. Novartis, for instance, may cut back and many of its reps are thrilled. AstraZeneca reps would like nothing less, according to the latest chatter on CafePharma, where detailers dish. So one rep began a poll to quantify the sentiment.

Now, keep in mind that Cafe Pharma polls aren’t scientific - anyone who visits the site can vote. So this doesn’t necessarily prove anything. And for those who question what they read on the site, well, we understand. Then again, one can glean useful info by being persistent. This is our usual disclaimer, by the way. So far, there are 39 votes; the poll closes July 31.

Worth doing? 7, or 18 percent;
Waste of time? 32, or 82 percent.

Here’s what one rep wrote about the problem with dinner programs:

“Physicians know that all the big pharma companies have their hands tied and that speakers can’t talk off-label anymore or use their own slides. Why would they want to come out and hear exactly what we’re telling them at every call and lunch & learn: essentially the company line, which is what the slide decks are. Unless they really want a free dinner, it’s not worth their time…

“I understand that the industry is under tremendous scrutiny right now and that we have to self-police on this stuff. However, the AZ mgmnt team doesn’t seem to get that these dinner programs are becoming a joke; they rarely provide value anymore and our customers know that. Still, we’re all expected to churn them out month after month. Total waste of resources (time & money). We’ve got to find new ways to provide value…”

By the way, a poll for Novartis reps, which runs through Aug. 1, so far found that 16 percent would eliminate speaker programs, 39 percent would reduce the number by three-quarters, and another 30 percent would cut dinner programs in half.