[india-drug] Re: Drug prices (12)

["Sampada Patvardhan" <dicmspc@yahoo.co.in>]

Drug prices (12)
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Dear all,
   
  I feel one reason for doctors to give in to accepting and/or expecting GIFTS for prescribing new formulations and companies to bribe them in several ways, is lack of exposure to real educative workshops and so on. If you see, these clinicians or family doctors rarely attend seminars or workshops on RUD, EDL, DTC etc...which is the backbone of controlling excessive drug use and drug prices too. They attend those company sponsored CMEs and in one such CME, where I went to talk on DIC, even the doctor's (one who spoke on one clinical topic) slides were also made by pharma company and he thanked that organization in his last slide!!! Such is the grip of this GIVE and TAKE. 

If we have just weekend seminars on RUD/EDL, Antibiotic Resistance for these busy doctors in various parts of India (to avoid journey time), then they may get first hand experience in this vital area which may improve prescribing practices to great extent. They may be given some educational or professional incentives to participate in such programs! Can it be done?
   
Dr. (Mrs.) Sampada Patvardhan (Ph.D.Tech. Pharmacology)                                         
Director, Maharashtra State Pharmacy Council?s Drug Information Centre  E.S.I.S. Hospital Compound, L.B.S. Marg, Mulund (W), Mumbai-400 080   Phone: 25930607  Telefax: 25684291/25684418  e-mail: dicmspc@yahoo.co.in