Comments on: All-Expense Paid Conference Trips & Other Goodies http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/all-expense-paid-conference-trips-other-goodies/ News, Comment and Conversation Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:23:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Researcher http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/all-expense-paid-conference-trips-other-goodies/#comment-370421 Researcher Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:29:40 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15159#comment-370421 And the pharmas aren't just providing these perks after their drug has reached market. Some pharmas are offering all-expense paid trips to "conferences" for investigators and their staff as an incentive to enroll in clinical trials. And if the conference happens to be in EU and the high enrollers are in the US, no problem. And if the conference is in the US, then the high enrollers in EU can go too - but I'm sure this does not affect the investigators' judgment on who to enroll in the studies. And the pharmas aren’t just providing these perks after their drug has reached market. Some pharmas are offering all-expense paid trips to “conferences” for investigators and their staff as an incentive to enroll in clinical trials. And if the conference happens to be in EU and the high enrollers are in the US, no problem. And if the conference is in the US, then the high enrollers in EU can go too - but I’m sure this does not affect the investigators’ judgment on who to enroll in the studies.

]]> By: M Helm, MD http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/all-expense-paid-conference-trips-other-goodies/#comment-370167 M Helm, MD Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:11:32 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15159#comment-370167 "S-A paid for breakfast for 30 staff? Big deal, it is common in pharma today in the US for reps to feed 30-40 staff to sit down with 4-5 doctors. Free lunch and/or breakfast is a perk put forward by office managers to prospective office employees." Doc, You have exactly outlined one of the problems with PhRMA promotion. The "free" lunch "perks" are in fact untaxed additional compensation for clinic employees under your scenario. These benefits should be reportable as income for all clinic employees - physicians as well. Pretty much everyone else in the country buys (or brings) their lunches (at least most of the time). We also pay our taxes on the money used to buy the lunch. Not so for clinic employees who feed at the PhRMA trough. Since a significant portion of the money flowing into PhRMA is actually local, state and federal government spending on healthcare, there is a legitimate interest in how PhRMA promotion should (or should not) occur. I pay my taxes, and health insurance premiums. I'd like to believe that those monies will be used efficiently. I don't eat PhRMA food. Christopher is correct, the essence of the debate is whether or not a pizza influences behavior. There is a significant body of social research which shows that it does. Sure there are some docs who are conscious of the risks and maintain themselves above the fray. However, the bulk of evidence says that most physicians are, in fact, influenced - even by small tokens. Also don't forget that in many cases the office staff - especially the nurses - have significant influence over what medicines get dispensed as samples, prescribed, or especially called in to the pharmacy. If the perks and stroking that constitute PhRMA promotion didn't show a return on investment, they would stop. The easiest way to ensure there is no undue influence, nor any appearance, is for physicians to "just say no." This doesn't seem likely to happen. It is too easy for a doc to justify accepting the "gift" by convincing himself or herself that they are smart enough to maintain a balanced view. “S-A paid for breakfast for 30 staff? Big deal, it is common in pharma today in the US for reps to feed 30-40 staff to sit down with 4-5 doctors. Free lunch and/or breakfast is a perk put forward by office managers to prospective office employees.”

Doc,

You have exactly outlined one of the problems with PhRMA promotion. The “free” lunch “perks” are in fact untaxed additional compensation for clinic employees under your scenario.

These benefits should be reportable as income for all clinic employees - physicians as well. Pretty much everyone else in the country buys (or brings) their lunches (at least most of the time). We also pay our taxes on the money used to buy the lunch. Not so for clinic employees who feed at the PhRMA trough.

Since a significant portion of the money flowing into PhRMA is actually local, state and federal government spending on healthcare, there is a legitimate interest in how PhRMA promotion should (or should not) occur.

I pay my taxes, and health insurance premiums. I’d like to believe that those monies will be used efficiently. I don’t eat PhRMA food.

Christopher is correct, the essence of the debate is whether or not a pizza influences behavior. There is a significant body of social research which shows that it does.

Sure there are some docs who are conscious of the risks and maintain themselves above the fray. However, the bulk of evidence says that most physicians are, in fact, influenced - even by small tokens.

Also don’t forget that in many cases the office staff - especially the nurses - have significant influence over what medicines get dispensed as samples, prescribed, or especially called in to the pharmacy. If the perks and stroking that constitute PhRMA promotion didn’t show a return on investment, they would stop.

The easiest way to ensure there is no undue influence, nor any appearance, is for physicians to “just say no.” This doesn’t seem likely to happen. It is too easy for a doc to justify accepting the “gift” by convincing himself or herself that they are smart enough to maintain a balanced view.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/all-expense-paid-conference-trips-other-goodies/#comment-370164 Christopher Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:24:12 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15159#comment-370164 The idea that a trip to a conference at best, or a free pizza at worst, can influence a prescribing decision is at the heart of this endless debate. Yes, there is always a Dr Harlot but more often are guests who accept the offer and genuinely do take in the science and info on offer at these conferences. And yes, many also explore in great detail the various scoial opportunities available to them. Does a prawn cocktail and glass of chardonnay swing it for most docs? No. Dr Harlot? Probably not because in all likelihood he or she is also consulting for other firms and so will not commit so far as to disenfranchise the other sponsors. Joe Collier et al seem genuine campaigners but have a somewhat blinkered view of it all. Point is, these docs - if considered important enough to be looked after - are smart enough to sift through obvious largesse and maintain balance, despite appeaances. Been there. The idea that a trip to a conference at best, or a free pizza at worst, can influence a prescribing decision is at the heart of this endless debate. Yes, there is always a Dr Harlot but more often are guests who accept the offer and genuinely do take in the science and info on offer at these conferences. And yes, many also explore in great detail the various scoial opportunities available to them. Does a prawn cocktail and glass of chardonnay swing it for most docs? No. Dr Harlot? Probably not because in all likelihood he or she is also consulting for other firms and so will not commit so far as to disenfranchise the other sponsors.
Joe Collier et al seem genuine campaigners but have a somewhat blinkered view of it all. Point is, these docs - if considered important enough to be looked after - are smart enough to sift through obvious largesse and maintain balance, despite appeaances. Been there.

]]> By: Doc http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/all-expense-paid-conference-trips-other-goodies/#comment-370150 Doc Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:00:16 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15159#comment-370150 S-A paid for breakfast for 30 staff? Big deal, it is common in pharma today in the US for reps to feed 30-40 staff to sit down with 4-5 doctors. Free lunch and/or breakfast is a perk put forward by office managers to prospective office employees. S-A paid for breakfast for 30 staff? Big deal, it is common in pharma today in the US for reps to feed 30-40 staff to sit down with 4-5 doctors. Free lunch and/or breakfast is a perk put forward by office managers to prospective office employees.

]]> By: LILLI http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/all-expense-paid-conference-trips-other-goodies/#comment-370139 LILLI Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:50:14 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15159#comment-370139 Hi Ed, I am surprised that you publish this information. It is also strange that not one of your steady writers did not give their opinion. Medicine is suppose to help the general public live longer and better. Medications should not be a business to promote drugs to make the manufacturers and the medical profession wealthy.Medications slso should not be considered for a long time appoval. America must be conerned with prvention and medication is not always the cure. In fact medication is known to cause many complications and uncessary death. Hi Ed,
I am surprised that you publish this information. It is also strange that not one of your steady writers did not give their opinion. Medicine is suppose to help the general public live longer and better. Medications should not be a business to promote drugs to make the manufacturers and the medical profession wealthy.Medications slso should not be considered for a long time appoval. America must be conerned with prvention and medication is not always the cure. In fact medication is known to cause many complications and uncessary death.

]]> By: worldtraveller http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/08/all-expense-paid-conference-trips-other-goodies/#comment-370123 worldtraveller Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:53:58 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=15159#comment-370123 Surely the story here is nothing to do with perks for docs. Its that the Guardian managed to find someone called "Dr Willy Notcutt". Surely the story here is nothing to do with perks for docs. Its that the Guardian managed to find someone called “Dr Willy Notcutt”.

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