medical education process

It's no wonder that doctors are so quick to fork over prescriptions for every little hangnail: The drug industry hasn't just infiltrated hospitals and clinics -- it has taken over the medical education process too. You see, each year, doctors must take refresher courses to stay abreast of the latest "advances" in medicine. And these courses are funded almost solely by Big Pharma. Even worse, in most cases, drug companies get to pick and choose which courses they want to pay for -- and they usually opt for ones that promote their products.

In other words, what should be continuing education has actually become one, big ad campaign.

In August, though, Stanford University took a small step towards making the process a bit less biased. Representatives from the University announced that it would "no longer let drug and device companies specify which courses they wish to finance." Instead, any money contributed by pharmaceutical companies would go into one pool used to fund the program in its entirety.

As Dr. Philip A. Pizzo, dean of Stanford's School of Medicine, said, "I want to make sure we're not marketing for industry or being influenced by their marketing."

It's a noble goal, but, as long as the University is accepting ANY money from the drug industry, it's one that they're not likely to achieve anytime soon. And, unfortunately, their move is just a drop in the bucket: Other than Stanford, there are only five other medical schools in the country—the universities of Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Kansas, and California Davis—that have taken even this little bit of power away from Big Pharma. And the only institution to ban industry financing for its doctor continuing education program entirely is the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

While the system may be a long way from real reform, the good news is that you can keep tabs on just how involved drug companies are in the everyday workings of the medical system—and make your health care decisions accordingly. The Prescription Project is a nonprofit organization that opposes industry financing of medical education, and their website, www.prescriptionproject.org, is updated regularly with news about new legislation to limit drug company power and other advances towards freedom from the ties that bind the medical industry to Big Pharma.
A.R.

[Myown]

Thanks for the website.....

[Weesy68]

Did you know that homeopathic remedies are actually often times the same as prescription medications in much lower doses?  How do you feel about the alternative doctors prescribing their own homeopathic remedies for which they profit much more than conventional doctors since most of them don't require a prescription and are stored and sold by the very doctors treating you?  My last visit to a homeopathic doctor cost me over $250 dollars because of the natural medications I needed.  When you go to a healthfood store, you are purchasing items that are often the same as prescription medications but in much lower quantities.  That is the difference.  Educate yourselves.  You are your own best advocate.  I believe there are benefits to both conventional and alternative medicines but I do not appreciate the subtle deceits in either field that keep the general public from getting the proper care.