Lobbying on all sides has been intense. The New England Promotional Products Association even punctuated its appeal to lawmakers with a gift.
"We don't feel making a pen or coffee mug illegal is going to accomplish their goals," said Stephen Monahan, the products association's president.
The mugs handed out to Massachusetts lawmakers, he said, were not intended to influence their opinions, just to remind them that more than 3,500 of the association's members are Massachusetts voters who depend on this industry for a livelihood.
I feel your pain, but the fact that Big Pharma is modifying their voluntary code means they know their ass is exposed. And we know that voluntary code will go right out the window as soon as it impinges on profitability...which is to say, no more than 48 hours after its announcement. After all, there's no penalty for ignoring a voluntary measure.
I'm hoping we can toss voluntary "regulation" on E.J. Dionne's pile of collapsed conservative concepts.
Drug industry tightens rules on gift-giving
Trade group is opposing Mass. effort to ban practice
By Kay Lazar, Globe Staff | July 11, 2008
The trade association for drug companies announced yesterday a tightening of its voluntary code restricting industry gifts to doctors, even as the association has been forcefully lobbying against a tougher ban that is likely to be debated in the Massachusetts House next week.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said its guidelines prohibit drug company sales representatives from handing out pens, mugs, and other tokens emblazoned with company or product logos, and also disallow restaurant meals. But the rules still allow salespeople to cater free lunches in doctors' offices and hospitals, which they use to get access to doctors and make their sales pitches. Companies would still be able to pay doctors consulting and speaking fees, which industry critics say is the fastest-growing category of drug marketing. And the code relies on the industry to police itself.
The proposed state law, already unanimously ap proved in the Senate, would ban any gifts of value to doctors. That includes entertainment, meals, travel, and subscriptions. Drug and medical-device companies would have to report to the Department of Public Health any payments to doctors for speaking and consulting, and that information would be posted on the agency's website.
