Could drug industry ties to doctors be weakening?

The conflict of interest that occurs when physicians accept gifts and payments from drug and medical device companies has been a concern for decades. While more transparency is needed in this area, a recent survey in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates the relationship may be changing in a way that could help alleviate these conflicts of interest.

The survey included more than 1600 doctors. Many report that they have stopped taking consulting fees from drug companies and those agreeing to serve on advisory board also declined.  The survey points out the following:

The percentage of physicians taking industry pay to serve on advisory boards and speakers' bureaus and as consultants fell by more than half. Consulting relationships declined the most, dropping 61% between 2004 and 2009. Fewer than 10% of doctors reported agreeing to any of these financial arrangements in 2009.

While this is just a sampling of 1600 physicians, this is movement in the right direction. I'm delighted that individual doctors are choosing to change course and take a new direction.

These physician-industry relationships are a move to gain doctor loyalty for certain drugs and medical devices regardless of quality or price. This activity is counter-productive to making decisions based on what the patient truly needs. Unfortunately, this practice is widespread in every industry and is not restricted to the medical sector.

Added scrutiny from some medical centers implementing their own standards against such practices will continue to help this effort. The sunshine provision which was included in the healthcare reform law is also likely to help change old habits for the better.

The more transparent these relationships become, the better off we all are!

Mike Daly blogs regularly at Action for Better Healthcare.