SA’s closet deals between doctors and drug makers
The pharmaceutical industry pays millions to healthcare professionals every year — without having to disclose details
South African patients are oblivious of the hidden hand of the pharmaceutical industry, which every year pays millions of rand in speakers’ fees, free meals and research grants to doctors and research institutions. There is no legal requirement for the companies to reveal the perks they give to medical professionals, nor are they willing to volunteer the information. In contrast, US law requires these same firms to publicly disclose their payments to doctors and teaching hospitals. They do so voluntarily in the UK as part of a Europe-wide move towards greater transparency, as well as in Japan and Australia. The lack of disclosure in this country leaves consumers in the dark about whether drug companies may be inappropriately influencing the prescribing habits of doctors. Nor do they know what conflicts of interest the experts may experience who advise the Medicines Control Council (MCC) whether or not to allow drugs onto the market, or those who draw up treatment guidelines for dise...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.