Become No Free Lunch Certified!

From a debate published at PLoS Med v.6(7); 2009 Jul.PMC2706999

( Can the Relationship between Doctors and Drug Companies Ever Be a Healthy One?)

The relationship between doctors and drug companies is the subject of intense scrutiny—there is widespread skepticism about the intent of industry and concern for the vulnerability of doctors in the relationship. Unfortunately, the debate on how to move this relationship forward has become polarized: industry argues that collaboration with physicians is essential to scientific advancement, but at the same time many doctors are pledging to cut all their ties to drug companies (see, for example, the No Free Lunch pledge at https://www.nofreelunch.org/pledge.htm).

Become No Free Lunch Certified!

Join the growing number of health care professionals from around the globe who have made a commitment to evidence-based practice by pledging to accept no gifts from industry and to rely on non-promotional sources of prescribing information.

The pledge is as follows

"I, __________________, am committed to practicing medicine in the best interest of my patients and on the basis of the best available evidence, rather than on the basis of advertising or promotion.  

I, therefore, pledge to accept no money, gifts, or hospitality from the pharmaceutical industry; to seek unbiased sources of information and not rely on information disseminated by drug companies; and to avoid conflicts of interest in my practice, teaching, and/or research."

Now, as you have read the above, you know what is meant by

BECOME NO FREE LUNCH CERTIFIED.

In this article, I will touch on three major points regarding this issue.

1- The impact and consequence of this act on the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the health care professionals.

For those who have been in this business for more than 10 years especially in Europe and the USA, they know that ever since this document took place, the pharmaceutical industry was obliged to stop inviting health care professional to conferences especially aboard, inviting them to lunch or dinner, no gifts, no samples unless the doctor asks for some, and he has to sign a request form. not even a promotional pen.

This resulted in widening the gap and creating even more skepticism, vulnerability, and mistrustfulness between the two major health care providers, at the time, were both should be focusing on the goal of improving the health of people. And that's why professional sales reps are facing difficult times seeing or meeting with doctors, and that is pretty understandable because the doctors perceive this visit as a dry, waste of time, and useless visit especially when they think they can get all the information that they need from the internet.

Also, it lacks the surprise element that the pharmaceutical PSR visit carries with, whether it is an invitation to conferences, diner or seminar, or even a small promotional material that the doctor can take home with and make his little kids happy, and of course needless to say the professional help that he can provide the doctor with that will help him resolve a problem or concern that he has.

2- Seek unbiased sources of information and not rely on information disseminated by drug companies.

I believe that doctors are much more intelligent to believe this statement, and it's only used to strengthen these campaign initiators argue a point of view, because they know will there is almost nothing called Unbiased source of information,

Its the pharmaceutical industry who first addresses the problems that the health care professionals are facing in treating or managing some disease, and then initiate long costly processes researching thousands of molecules to come up with a product that will help them treat this problem, so it's obvious they are the best source of information regarding this treatment option and the hire educated people and train them to help you help your patients and provide you with the best on hand information. On the other hand, statistics show that more than 65% of research, studies, and educational programs are sponsored directly from the pharmaceutical industry, and the other 35% are indirectly sponsored by donations from the pharmaceutical industry in a way or another.

3 – I won't go back in times where pharmaceutical and medical industries provide health care professionals with tests, tools, and medications that help them save millions of lives at least in the last 50 years.

But I will light on the current pandemic of COVED 19 that has paralyzed the world and make everybody weak and hopeless, mainly, the health care professionals and sadly many of them have sacrificed their lives in a desperate attempt to save the lives of their patients,

Today, every single person's eyes are looking with hope to hear that one pharmaceutical company has come up with a vaccine or treatment to save humanity, and brings life to normal.

Through my long years of working in the pharmaceutical field, I have conducted more than 1000 diner or lunch debates that include more than 10000 doctors, and you can imagine the time and effort I put on this. I have distributed tens of thousands of promotional materials and invited tens of doctors to attend international congress and conferences. And all of them were key opinion leaders, heads of medical dept., early adopters, and doctors who are interested to share their peer's knowledge and experience.

During which, I assure you that not one single doctor had ever accused us as a company or me personally of being bias or trying to bribe them, on the contrary, they always evaluate these meetings as being fun and spending quality time outside their working hours with peers to discuss issues related to their daily practice, and were always appreciated for this.

I will end this article again quoting

Responsible leadership is no longer about influencing opinion but is instead about aligning aspirations and realizing ambitions. Doctors champion patient needs, and pharmaceutical industry requires a positive presence in health care committed to addressing these needs. Both groups want to make the necessary moves to improve interactions. Embracing a new era of engagement and acknowledging the positive aspects of aligning will move this debate from rhetoric to reality.

Stay safe.