Government acts on gifts from drug companies

Expensive gifts, such as medical equipment and expenses paid foreign trips, from drug companies to doctors will be banned under parliamentary regulations laid last week. Drug companies have failed to abide by rules laid down by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, and drug company staff who offer sales inducements to doctors could face criminal charges. Doctors could also be found guilty of accepting inducements. Doctors have been criticised for accepting free air tickets to conferences to cover holiday travel costs and for accepting luxury trips to Venice and Monte …