The Ethical Issues
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 May 2014
An anonymous survey distributed to doctors in Poland revealed the troublesome relationship between physicians and pharmaceutical sale representatives in terms of the frequency of visits, the trust of physicians in information supplied by sales reps, gifts accepted, and the general influence of marketing strategies on physician decisions. Challenges remain, despite laws enacted to address the problem.
1. Polish Journal of Laws 1991, no. 105, pos. 452.
2. Polish Journal of Laws 1993, no. 47, pos. 211.
3. Swiatkiewicz, G. Problem nadużywania legalnych psychoaktywnych farmaceutyków na tle społeczno-ekonomicznej transformacji w Polsce. Alkoholizm i Narkomania 2005;18(4):73–92.Google Scholar
4. Kula P. Grudzień 2011. Rekordowa Sprzedaż. Cały rok +5%; 2012 Jan; available at http://www.aptekarzpolski.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1109&Itemid=79 (last accessed 17 May 2013).
5. IMS Health. Report about the act on the refund of medicines: The implementation and the influence on market participants. Poland 2011;11–12. available at http://www.infozdrowie.org/attachments/iztv06_12_2011/ims_prezentacja_6.12.2011.pdf (last accessed 19 May 2013), slides 11 and 12.
6. Pilarczyk, B. Uwarunkowania działań marketingowych na rynku farmaceutycznym. In Michalik, M, Pilarczyk, B, Mruk, H, eds. Marketing strategiczny na rynku farmaceutycznym. Kraków, Poland: Wolters Kluwer; 2008:31–55.Google Scholar
7. See note 3, Swiatkiewicz 2005, at 81.
8. Cybuski, K, Misztak, M. Przedstawiciele medyczni na polskim rynku farmaceutycznym: Wybrane mity i fakty. Problemy zarządzania: Zarządzanie i marketing w sektorze ochrony zdrowia 2006;2:177–85.Google Scholar
9. See note 4, Kula 2012.
10. Halperin, EC, Hutchison, P, Barrier, RC. A population-based study of the prevalence and influence of gifts to radiation oncologists from pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment manufacturers. International Journal of Radiation Oncology 2004;54(5):1477–83.Google Scholar
11. Orlowski, JP, Wateska, L. The effects of pharmaceutical firm enticements on physician prescribing patterns: There’s no such things as a free lunch. Chest 1992;102:270–3.Google Scholar
12. Steinman, MA, Shlipak, MG, McPhee, SJ. Of principles and pens: Attitudes and practices of medicine housestaff toward pharmaceutical industry promotions. American Journal of Medicine 2001;110(7):551–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. Wazana, A. Physicians and the pharmaceutical industry: Is a gift ever just a gift? JAMA 2000;283(3):373–80.Google Scholar
14. See note 11, Orlowski, Wateska 1992.
15. Coyle SL. Physician-industry relations. Part I: Individual physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine 2002;136:396–402.
16. Campbell, EC, Gruen, RL, Mountford, J, Miller, LG, Cleary, PD, Blumenthal, D. A national survey of physician–industry relationships. The New England Journal of Medicine 2007;356:1742–50.Google Scholar
17. Doran, E, Kerridge, I, McNeill, P, Henry, D. Empirical uncertainty and moral contest: A qualitative analysis of the relationship between medical specialists and the pharmaceutical industry in Australia. Social Science and Medicine 2006;62:1510–19.Google Scholar
18. See note 13, Wazana 2000.
19. See note 13, Wazana 2000.
20. See note 13, Wazana 2000.
21. Polish Journal of Laws 2008, no. 45, pos. 271.
22. INFARMA. Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Ethics; 2013 Mar; available at http://www.infarma.pl/articles.php?miId=9 (last accessed 20 May 2013).
23. See note 10, Halperin et al. 2004.
24. See note 12, Steinman et al. 2001.