published letters

Published in The Age on Thursday, May 4, 2006

The nature of the inappropriate inducements for doctors mentioned by Medicines Australia (Letters 3/5), which supposedly prevent the pharmaceutical industry influencing doctors are not clearly defined by the code they have written for themselves.

The code is then interpreted by a committee dominated by the industry, with an appeals committee similarly dominated. It’s called “self-regulation” which, in the case of such a profit-driven industry as the drug industry, effectively means no regulation. The “gravy train” is set to continue unchallenged until the Federal Government steps in and regulates the industry or gives the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission the power to regulate.

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society