Published 3 February 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b211
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b211

Analysis

Relationships with the drug industry: More regulation, greater transparency

Harlan M Krumholz, Harold H Hines Junior professor of medicine and epidemiology and public health1,2, Joseph S Ross, assistant professor3,4

1 Section of Cardiovascular Medicine and Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Department of Medicine, Section of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208088, New Haven, CT 06520-8088, USA, 2 Yale-New Haven Hospital Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, New Haven, CT, USA, 3 Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA, 4 James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA

Correspondence to: H M Krumholz harlan.krumholz@yale.edu

The relationship between the drug industry, academia, healthcare professionals, and patients is widely held to be at an all time low, and it is in the interests of all parties to improve it. A recent report from the Royal College of Physicians gives 42 recommendations aimed at forging a more productive partnership with industry. Here we set out five views on what the ideal relationship between industry and prescribers and patients should be and what steps need to be taken to achieve it (doi:10.1136/bmj.b222, doi:10.1136/bmj.b232, doi:10.1136/bmj.b234, doi:10.1136/bmj.b252)

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The relationship between drug and device companies, the medical profession, and the public is at a critical juncture. Individuals who have placed their interests in profit and influence over patients and public health have overshadowed much of the good work and reputations of those who have engaged in constructive interaction.1 As a result, public perception of the drug industry, doctors and scientists is at an historic low.2 3 The public is well served when industry, clinicians, and academicians work together for the common good, generating new knowledge and ensuring appropriate and rapid dissemination of effective products to save lives and improve quality of life. To restore the public’s trust we must set a path forward that encourages ethical collaboration and discourages activities by industry, researchers, or practising doctors that are largely self serving or place financial benefit above patients and the public good. Setting explicit standards of conduct for interactions between . . . [Full text of this article]


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This article has been cited by other articles:

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