On SBS Tuesdays 8:30pm

Repeated Wednesday 1:00pm SBS ONE, Friday 7:30pm SBS TWO

Doctors and Drugs

Tuesday, 26 May 09

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Just how close are doctors and drug companies?

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Doctors and specialists are regularly offered gifts from drug companies.

These range from pens and coffee mugs, to stethoscopes through to free trips to international conferences.

Web extra: Collecting drug company gifts.
 
Just last year, drug companies in Australia spent more than $62 million on educational events for doctors, and half of that amount was spent on hospitality such as meals.
 
Do these handouts buy influence?
 
Critics say they do; that gifts, sponsorships and hospitality affect the independence of the medical profession.
 
Drug companies say that the educational events they sponsor are vital in keeping doctors up to date with new drugs and developments in medical research.
 
Doctors and drug companies - just how close are they and what does that mean for you the patient?

Web extra: Two drug companies pushing the boundaries with their marketing campaigns.

Some of our guests will be available for you to talk to online after the show on our Live Chat.

You can also follow Insight on Twitter.

Meet the Guests

  • Dr Ken Harvey

    Dr Ken Harvey is based at the School of Public Health at Latrobe University and is a long time activist against what he sees as the inappropriate influence of pharmaceutical companies on doctors.

  • Will Delaat

    Will Delaat is the Chairman of Medicines Australia, who represent and self-regulate Australia's pharmaceutical companies. Medicines Australia are revising their code of conduct to ban the pens and cups that drug reps hand out to doctors.

  • Professor Martin Tattersall

    Dr Martin Tattersall is an oncologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney. He has conducted a survey of patients and found most would like their doctor to disclose their connections to the pharmaceutical industry.

  • Professor Garry Jennings

    Professor Garry Jennings is the Director of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia's largest cardiovascular and diabetes research institute. Baker IDI has defended a recent deal made with drug company Sanofi-Aventis, which would see the institute receive 25 cents from each sale of an anti-clotting prescription drug.

  • Dr Joann Goodier

    Dr Joann Goodier is a Sydney-based GP. She has previously worked for the pharmaceutical industry in the UK and currently consults for Novartis and Galderma.

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