Greens in Medicines stoush
June 28, 2012
THE Greens are taking a firm
stance on inducements to
healthcare professionals from the
pharmaceutical industry, saying
“Not only do current practices
undermine the integrity of the
health system, they damage the
reputation of doctors and the
pharmaceutical industry itself.”
Speaking ahead of the release of
Medicines Australia’s new code of
conduct the Greens’ Spokesperson
for Health Senator Richard Di
Natale said “If Medicines Australia
fails to take adequate steps then
the Greens have a bill ready that
will ban inducements to doctors”.
“The public now find it totally
unacceptable that doctors are
treated to lavish accommodation
and overseas trips, in the name of
education,” he added.
According to Di Natale, the
Greens Bill would put an end to the
pharmaceutical industry paying
doctors travel and accommodation
expenses for conferences and to
lavish dinners and other gifts, and
would require any payment for
doctors’ services to be more
transparent.
“All payments to doctors for
speaking engagements or for
advisory board positions would be
publicly listed to improve
transparency,” he said.
“The public need to have
confidence that their doctor is
prescribing them medication
because it’s the best treatment
available, not because the company
involved flew them to a luxury
resort,” he added.
MEANWHILE Medicines Australia
has hit back at the Greens saying
the party has effectively preempted
the six-month ACCC review
of the Code which will take place
after the organisation submits the
Code to the ACCC next month.
In addition Medicines Australia
said that the Greens’ remarks also
prejudge the consultation the
industry has undertaken with
patient organisations, doctor
groups and the broader community.
This review and consultation
process, according to Shaw, has
taken Medicines Australia 12 mths.
“Our track record shows that this
consultation has led to the
Australian medicines industry today
being one of the world leaders in
ethical behaviour,” he said.
Hitting back at accusations, Shaw
also added that the current Code of
Conduct already bans lavish
hospitality, entertainment, gifts and
other inducements, and has done
so for years.
“We are serious about
maintaining an ethical industry that
adds value to the role doctors play
in treating patients and curing
disease.
“The relationship between the
medicines industry and healthcare
professionals needs careful
consideration to ensure we get the
most effective outcome for
patients, doctors and the industry.
“That is why the Code review
process is so important and why we
are taking it very seriously,” he
added.
Shaw also defended interaction
between medicines companies and
doctors saying a ban on it would
“actually just end up being bad for
patients because their doctors will
find it harder to stay informed of
the latest treatments”.
“The ongoing dialogue between
doctors and the medicines industry
is critical to patient health and
safety,” he said.
“It is a vital part of the health
system and so it is important that
those relationships are ethical,
appropriate and stand up to public
scrutiny,” he added.
The revised Code will be
submitted for authorisation to the
ACCC on 04 July 2012.
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