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No brakes on the drugs 'gravy train'
The Age Thursday, 4 May 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
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