The interactions between doctors and pharmaceutical companies

Abstract

In this review, the interactions between doctors and drug companies were evaluated within the scope of current literature. Unethical deviation from healthy interactions between the pharmaceutical industry and doctors is becoming a serious problem in the era of modern medical practice. Many contemporary guidelines on this issue from different countries and authorities exist. They address various ethical questions such as drug promotion, gift giving, sponsorship, the acceptable range of promotional activities, and continuous medical education and drug companies. The Turkish Medical Association recently declared the tenet of "Medical Doctor and Drug Advertisement Principles". The association has also established a strong relation with topic 15 of "Ethics in Medical Science Profession" and this declaration. There is also a contemporary regulation of the Turkish Ministry of Health addressing the same issue. Their contents are similar to the guidelines and regulations which were presented from other countries. Despite great efforts, the problem remains unresolved. Society-based new application models, statutes and regulatory mechanisms are needed.