Baltimore Sun Examines Pharmaceutical Company Marketing Tactics For Medical School Students

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 07 Jun 2007 - 13:00 PDT

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The "common marketing tactic" of pharmaceutical companies holding promotional events and giving medical school students "food and trinkets" is drawing criticism for its potential to influence future medical decisions, the Baltimore Sun reports. Experts estimate that drug companies spend about $19 billion annually on marketing to physicians. While it is not clear how much of that is directed toward medical school students, many future doctors claim they have received gifts and meals from the industry -- sometimes from the doctors who teach them, the Sun reports.

Critics say "such early exposure to marketing perks produces doctors whose treatment decisions might be tainted by biased information and doctors' financial interest," according to the Sun. Experts note that a lot of medical research is conducted as a collaboration between physicians and drug makers. Sarah Sharfstein, president of a local chapter of the American Medical Student Association, said, "Our professors don't need to disclose their financial relationships to us or their patients," adding, "So we don't know where they are coming from."

A paper published in January in the Journal of the American Medical Association called on medical schools and affiliated teaching hospitals to lead the way in eliminating conflicts of interest between physicians and drug makers. Meanwhile, medical schools and professional organizations are working to limit drug makers' access to students.

The American Medical Student Association has sponsored a "PharmFree" campaign that encourages students to turn down no-cost food and gifts, and several medical schools have established policies based on the JAMA recommendations that restrict such practices. The Association of American Medical Colleges has requested that a task force investigate the issue to create guidelines for its members. The guidelines are expected to be completed in 2008.

Drug companies say their representatives provide doctors with important information and are adequately restrained by both industry and federal guidelines (Emery, Baltimore Sun, 6/3).

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