COULD COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS AFFECT PRESCRIBING INDEPENDENCE?
Absolutely not. On the contrary it creates a level playing field for all Medical Reps and their companies and reduces the dominant marketing position of the large multinationals by transferring the largesse of the lavish hosting into more equitable office-based interactions. Friendship commitments with Reps and Company loyalty engendered by selective and often excessive hosting junkets should not be compromising the clinical and prescribing independence of doctors, who are judiciously selected to exert such influences. These are not possible for smaller or non-quoted Companies with equally good and meritorious products. On the other hand these latter Companies would now be contributing, albeit indirectly, to academic and other activities geared toward improving patient care and services.
