The inherent conflict between the legitimate business goal of drug companies to maximise profit and the medical, social and economic needs of health professionals, consumers and governments to select and use medicines rationally will be the subject of a major PAC10 presentation in Melbourne in October.

Dr Ken Harvey of the School of Public Health, La Trobe University will look at how this conflict has increased in recent years because innovation has become more difficult, drug development pipelines are drying up and many profitable "blockbuster" drugs are coming off patent.

"This has resulted in substantially increased industry expenditure on promotion," Dr Harvey said.

"Major pharmaceutical companies now spend of the order of 24 per cent to 33 per cent of sales on promotion, about twice as much as on research and development," Dr Harvey said.

"On June 30, 2010, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mark Butler, released two related papers at the National Medicines Policy Partnership Forum: a position paper on the promotion of therapeutic goods and a consultation paper on advertising arrangements. Public submissions on both papers were encouraged.

"In addition, a Working Group on Promotion of Therapeutic Products was set up. "Mr Butler said, 'The Government aims to ensure that decisions on management (including treatment) options for health needs are based on sound clinical evidence, not driven by incentives or other influences...'

"This session will review current promotional and related practices causing ethical concern, outline recommendations put to the government to improve the current situation and challenge pharmacists to become more involved in these matters."

Being held in Melbourne from 28-31 October this year, delegates to PAC10 can earn up to 35 Continuing Professional Development credits during the congress.

Source:
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia