An Australian newspaper gives a glimpse of how much drug companies spend to wine and dine doctors at "educational events." Excerpt:
"A drug giant spent more than $514,000 on a weekend seminar that included just six hours of "education content".Posted by schwitz at April 3, 2008 06:37 AM | TrackBackThe symposium by Australian-based AstraZeneca included gourmet meals, alcohol and two nights free accommodation.
A new report shows "Big Pharma" is prepared to spend millions showering doctors with hospitality in the hope they will prescribe their drugs.
It reveals drug companies spent $31 million on educational events in the second half of last year, including $16 million on meals, airfares and accommodation.
Drug companies funded 14,643 functions during the period, 52 of which are under investigation for possible breaches of new industry rules.
Critics attacked the spending as an "orgy of wining and dining designed to schmooze doctors and boost the sales of new medicines".
But doctors claimed the hospitality amounted to little more than "a glass of orange juice and a sandwich".
Industry body Medicines Australia said drug companies had to keep doctors informed about new medicines.
"No one knows more about pharmaceuticals than the people who make them," chief executive Ian Chalmers said.
Medicines Australia refused to disclose which companies hosted the suspect events until the cases are reviewed.
Companies that breach the rules face $200,000 fines.
More than 220 gastroenterologists attended the AstraZeneca event, which was one of the most expensive disclosed.
Another company, Roche Products, spent $511,791 on a weekend hepatitis symposium for 337 specialists at Melbourne's Grand Hyatt, including $415,000 on hospitality.
Pfizer spent $340,000 on a cardiovascular forum for 220 specialists in Sydney, and Wyeth spent $333,000 sending 178 psychiatrists to an $1800-a-head event on Sydney.
Australian Medical Association president Rosanna Capolingua said the events were necessary and spending was reasonable."
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