Drug company is censured for offering perks to prescribing nurses
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《英国医生杂志》
The drug company AstraZeneca has been censured by the UK drug industry抯 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 Jude抯 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.(Zosia Kmietowicz)
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 Jude抯 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.(Zosia Kmietowicz)