Across the country, on an ad-hoc basis, isolated programs already have sprung up to counter tactics used by pharma sales reps to sell drugs. Now, Senators are considering a bill that would offer "academic detailing" programs nationwide to offer neutral information to physicians that counters the hype provided by reps. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair Herb Kohl (D-WI) plans to introduce legislation this year, in cooperation with Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) that would create grant programs to fund counterdetailing programs. One grant program would help to create training materials that would further educate doctors on the comparative effectiveness and safety profiles for various common medications. Another would send specially-trained healthcare professionals to physician offices to offer fresh, neutral information sources on prescribing options.
To learn more about the proposal:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report item [1]
Related Articles:
Trend: States try to counter pharma drug marketing. Report [2]
'Counter-detailers' offer drug info alternative. Report [3]
Links:
[1] http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=50939
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/trend-states-try-to-counter-pharma-drug-marketing/2008-03-03
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/counter-detailers-offer-drug-info-alternative/2007-02-27