Australia’s drug industry has said that in the last six months of 2007 alone it organised more than 14 633 “educational events” for the benefit of medical professionals. Detailed monthly reports by 43 companies show that they spent more than $A31m (£14.3m; €18.1m; $28m) and attracted 385 221 people to the events.

Although many meetings were held in hospitals and attracted attendances of only about two dozen, others were more elaborate affairs. Amgen Australia, for example, spent $328 206 on food, alcohol, travel, and accommodation at a Sydney hotel for a two day clinical haematology symposium attended by 142 haematologists and trainees. Amgen sells a range …