The recent Institute of Medicine: Conflict of Interest in Medical, Research, Education and Practice report has brought about swirls of discussions.
The report is basically a 350 pages exhaustive review article on the virtues of eliminating all potential for commercial bias.
A few examples include eliminating:
· Non-Accredited talks by physicians
· Gifts of any kind
· Visits by Drug Reps to Physicians Offices
· Drug Samples
Adding:
· Nationalized disclosure of all payments to all healthcare providers
· Nationalized Pooling of CME Commercial Support
According to the IOM the report cost $1,375,000.
The Coalition for Healthcare Communication an organization that defends the right of health professionals and consumers to receive truthful information regarding pharmaceuticals and medical products, as safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States.
The Coalition released a brief analysis of the report and its effect. As a matter of personal disclosure, I am part of the Coalition and participated in preparing the analysis.
While the tone of the IOM press material and draft report suggests a rather modest call for change in the relationships among the industry, organized medicine and prescribers, the press statements of the participants and a careful reading of the report (over 350 pages) illuminate an intent by the Committee to aggressively limit the role of the industry in organized medicine and policy making.
"The IOM recommendations seem both naïve and foolish," according to John Kamp, Executive Director of the Coalition for Healthcare Communication. "On the same day that the world's health leaders were working with research-based drug companies to address the possible swine flu pandemic, IOM proposed new limits on full participation in public health decision making and implementation. Instead of expanding prohibitions, enlightened leaders should embrace industry collaboration to advance the tangible and immediate health needs of the nation's citizens and move forward on long-needed health care reform."
For the analysis: Coalition Responds to IOM Report on Conflict of Interest