Australian medical sales report causes a fuss
Choice, the Australian consumer association has caused a stir suggestion that medical sales people should be replaced by independent advisors.
The consumer association quizzed over 150 GPs on medical sales issues and pharmaceutical promotion. They concluded that all pharmaceutical promotions tended to focus on new and expensive treatments and not older ones which may be more effective. The suggestion is that independent advisors would provide less bias advice and save lots of money.
Whilst on the face of it, you could be forgiven for agreeing with this, it ignores the fact that pharmaceutical companies rely on their medical sales operations to make a profit, and without that profit, they would be unable to carry out the research that has pushed modern medicine to where it is today.
If consumers are happy to halt the medical progress that will save future lives then this would be a good route to take. Otherwise, perhaps the medical sales industry's response to the report is correct, that being that they should 'stick to assessing wahsing machines' !
Primary Care Representative
Poor medical sales advice given in UK pharmacies
