At the start of next year, the drug companies will no longer be giving pens and pads of paper to doctors. The rules regarding pharmaceutical sales practices have grown progressively more stringent over the past few years. The FDA already regulates what the reps say to physicians (they may only assert what is in the PI, or package insert). Now they will
be very limited on other contact with physicians.
Thank goodness. Those pens and pads of paper were sending
subliminal messages to me. I hear them talking to me in my sleep. I
just have an insatiable need to prescribe unnecessary medications
because of a ballpoint. It will be good to get out of this marketing
hell these reps have put me in.
Citizens are worried about the influence these companies are having
over us physicians, wondering if their efforts to influence are driving
up the cost of care. One online petition site states:
Drug marketing is out of control. Help send a message to Congress.
Support the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which will require drug
companies to publicly report their gifts and payments to doctors.
Drug companies spend at least $25 billion each year marketing to
doctors. We pay for that with every drug we buy. And studies prove that marketing causes doctors to prescribe higher-cost drugs. Some new drugs also have safety risks (like Vioxx). By increasing transparency, the Sunshine Act will help protect patients and help counter the skyrocketing costs of drugs.
Congress is also getting involved:



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