[e-drug] E-DRUG: Drug company is censured for offering perks to prescribing nurses

["Joao Carapinha" <carapinhaj@therapy.wits.ac.za>]

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[copied as fair use; BS]

Colleagues:

Below an example of the use of a Code of Practice to regulate the
advertising and promotional activities of pharmaceutical industries.
Although the case refers to the UK specifically, what of the South
African environment? We too have a Code of Practice, but is it being
used? And are there any examples out there of its successful utilisation
to resolve dubious advertising and promotional activities?

Regards

Joco Carapinha 
South Africa
carapinhaj@therapy.wits.ac.za

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BMJ  2005;330:984 (30 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7498.984-c

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/330/7498/984-c?etoc  

Drug company is censured for offering perks to prescribing nurses

London Zosia Kmietowicz 

The drug company AstraZeneca has been censured by the UK drug industry's
watchdog for offering nurses excessive hospitality at educational
meetings located in luxury hotels. 

The watchdog, the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority,
ruled that one of the meetings had breached clause 2 of the code of
practice, which says that methods of promotion must never bring
discredit on or reduce confidence in the pharmaceutical industry. 

The meeting, which AstraZeneca cancelled after a complaint from a local
GP, was due to be held at the Cameron House Hotel in Loch Lomond. Nurses
who were due to attend the meeting were scheduled to have three hours of
talks on asthma during a stay of nearly 24 hours at the hotel, which
included dinner, bed and breakfast, and lunch. 

The authority, which administers the voluntary code of practice for the
Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, ruled that the
arrangements were unacceptable and that the meeting "could have been
held over one day without the need to provide overnight accommodation." 
AstraZeneca was also reprimanded for another meeting it organised for
nurses at the four star Groucho St Judes hotel in Glasgow. The meeting
on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the general
medical services contract comprised a 45 minute presentation followed by
dinner. 

For both meetings the authority ruled that AstraZeneca had breached a
further two clauses of the code of practice, regarding excessive
hospitality and for not maintaining high standards. 

Des Spence, a Glasgow GP and the UK spokesman for the No Free Lunch
campaign, which highlights conflicts of interest between health staff
and the drug industry, complained to the association about the meetings.
He said that the industry has been targeting nurses particularly in the
area of chronic disease management, as nurses are increasingly
responsible for managing these conditions and also take charge of much
of the prescribing. 
He encouraged other doctors to report similar breaches of responsible
practice to the authority. 

AstraZeneca was unable to comment on the rulings.