MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'free lunch'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:29:50 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050527&cid=t_119105_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FXbSAktKmgNA%2F My colleague Dan Mitchell discussed the good, the bad, and the ugly in the deficit reduction plan released by the bipartisan group of senators known as the “Gang of Six.”  As Dan noted, the plan is more of an outline and a complete assessment isn’t possible until more details emerge. However, the fact that President Obama immediately embraced the plan ought to tell proponents of limited government all they need to know. Here are some random thoughts on the plan: There’s nothing impressive about the “immediate” $500 billion in deficit reduction. That figure includes revenue increases, so it’s not even $500 billion in spending cuts. And I’m not sure why they say “immediate” when they probably mean that the reductions would occur over the next several fiscal years. The d... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050527 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:55:49 +0100 5050527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821153&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FttGLcZVmqVw%2F Has a new UK law aimed at snuffing out bribes forced AstraZeneca to change some practices? Kai Richter, medical director for AstraZeneca Deutschland, told the Financial Times Deutschland that, as of this summer, the drugmaker will not cover the cost of hotels and travel or conference fees for doctors attending medical science events. Although he did not say specifically the decision was due to the new Bribery Act, he did indicate the policy change was an internal decision. Nonetheless, the German paper quoted an industry insider as saying the new law was a “catalyst moment” (read here). An AstraZeneca spokesperson, meanwhile, acknowledges to BMJ that changes are afoot in global sales and marketing practices. “To that end, we are discontinuing certain activities, even though the... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821153 Thu, 12 May 2011 13:34:14 +0100 4821153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684429&cid=t_119105_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F07%2Fpsychiatrists-are-like-catholics-disliked-by-the-media%2F If you follow the news, you know it’s a bad time to be a psychiatrist. I’d say almost as bad as being a Catholic (especially during the sex scandal … holy Jesus). Apparently they no longer really care about their patients. They are a bunch of greedy Mr. Krabs. They have abandoned psychotherapy, only to pass out samples of the latest drug so that they can get their free lunch from big Pharma. (My sister used to make them … they’re quite good!) And then along comes one of my favorite psychiatrists, Ronald Pies, M.D., to set the story straight. In a World of Psychology post earlier this week, he dissects the front-page article in the March 6 issue of The New York Times. Pies cites some statistics that, yes, indicate there is less psychotherapy today performed in psychiat... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684429 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:39:45 +0100 4684429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489974&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUmyd6rj5pDg%2F Much is made of the interactions between doctors and drugmakers and, specifically, the extent to which certain practices, such as free meals, may unduly influence medical practice and prescribing habits. But, of course, there are other healthcare professionals in the equation, such as nurse practitioners. And a recent study in the American Journal of Managed Care argues that marketing toward this group deserves similar scrutiny. A few findings: Nearly all of the NP’s - 96 percent - reported regular contact with reps and most - 71 percent - say they received info on new drugs directly from reps some or most of the time. Meanwhile, 61 percent reported it was acceptable for drugmakers to provide small gifts and meals to clinical offices, although 93 percent said gifts had no effect on t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489974 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:39:15 +0100 4489974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706997&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9p5tke04IDA%2F Even in this day and age when the proverbial free lunch from a sales rep is considered a no-no, we all know that some doctors run very busy practices with large staffs who appreciate a nice meal now and then. And some practices are very - very - particular about what the reps should bring, and when it should be delivered. Take this memo from a Baltimore practice about its new sales rep poilcy. Issued earlier this month, lunches are to held only between 12 noon and 1 pm, but food must be delivered by 11:45 am. And reps must email the office at least the day before, “so anyone with any allergies may plan to bring lunch that day…This also allows us to identify if we get the wrong lunch delivered before the food is opened.” What’s more, there are no less than 20 recomme... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706997 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:58:06 +0100 3706997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463576&cid=t_119105_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FGc3yNwm3Qa0%2F By Mark A. CalabriaThe extent to which government spending either complements or crowds out private investment has long been one of the most heated debates in economics (and politics).  Generally economic theorists posit that an increase in government spending drives up interest rates, which increases the cost of private investment, accordingly reducing such investment.  Most macroeconomic models are build on this relationship.  In an interesting new working paper, a trio of economists attack the question from a different angle.  They measure the impact of increased earmarks on the local economy receiving those earmarks, and compare the impact to areas not receiving the increased earmarks, which allows them to control for the overall macroeconomic environment.  Their finding: even in... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463576 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:38:20 +0100 3463576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2089987&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Ffree-health-speech-marketers-reach-for.html (Source: Pharma Marketing Blog) Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2089987 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:17:00 +0100 2089987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1901507&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Ffree-samples-drug-reps-last-great-hope.html "As of Jan 1 2009, pharmaceutical reps will no longer be permitted to deliver any marketing materials to [healthcare professionals]. This makes samples our only real form of in-office marketing," according to Chris Nibe, a "Sales Specialist" employed by Daiichi-Sankyo.Nibe made this comment yesterday at ExL Pharma's 4th Annual Pharmaceutical Sampling Strategies & Alternatives conference in Philadelphia, PA. I attended this meeting as a guest of ExL Pharma and Media Partner who helped ExL Pharma promote the conference.Of course, these were the personal opinions of Nibe and not Daiichi-Sankyo, which was "not responsible for the content, opinions or research conducted to complete [Nibe's] presentation. Nibe claimed, however, that his "presentation [represents] the views and opinions of He... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1901507 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:08:00 +0100 1901507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1785905&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fno-free-tapas.html Healthcare professionals in Spain are beginning to fight back against the pressure that the drug industry exerts on them to prescribe particular products. Professionals from a wide range of medical fields have created the No Gracias ("No thank you") group, part of the international No Free Lunch movement, a network of non-profit organisations that aim to "encourage health care providers to practise medicine on the basis of scientific evidence rather than on the basis of pharmaceutical promotion" (www.nofreelunch.org).One of the organisers of the recently launched Spanish group, Carlos Ponte, head of the intensive care unit at Asturias Central Hospital, in Oviedo, northern Spain, said, "This platform aims to impact on, and to change, the relations between the drug industry, publi... PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1785905 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:04:00 +0100 1785905 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1603400&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F331634780%2F All those cheap pens and mugs, along with other gifts, given to doctors will no longer be allowed under new voluntary guidelines being issued by PhRMA, the US trade group. But there are no limits on speaking and consulting fees for docs, and routine free meals in physician offices - plus dinner invites to educational events - will still be permitted. Drugmakers are supposed to certify in writing that “they have policies and procedures in place to foster compliance with the code,” which will go into effect in January. The code, by the way, doesn’t cover biotechs or device makers, which have their own trade groups, but these haven’t taken such steps. The code requires annual limits on amounts to be paid docs to deliver educational talks, although limits aren’t specifie... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1603400 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:30:20 +0100 1603400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1560793&cid=t_119105_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F07%2F02%2Fhealthbolt-giveaway-win-a-free-lunch-in-new-york-city-part-two%2F Do you ever get hooked into watching an infomercials on television?  You’re sitting there, waiting impatiently for the price of the item to come up and just when you think they are going to tell you, there’s an annoying voice saying ‘but wait, there’s more.’ Well, today, I’m that annoying voice saying ‘but wait, there’s more’. Yesterday, I posted about a chance for a Healthbolt reader to win a ‘free special event luncheon in NYC’ on July 10th. Of course, there was a little catch - you would have to write an unbiased review of the product in question. Well, we’ve added a sweetener to the deal…. The PR agency is going to provide the winner a ‘fun bag of product goodies’. Tempted now ? Then jump over ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1560793 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:06:13 +0100 1560793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300325&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fpets-welcome-pharma-not-at-oregon-cme.html The Oregon Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) is hosting its 61st Annual CME Weekend at Salishan Spa and Golf Resort in Glendale Beach, OR this May. There'll be plenty of golf, tennis, beach activities, spa rejuvenation, wining and dining, kiting, and shopping at this "pet friendly" lodge, but pharmaceutical companies are verbotin!A Deluxe Guestroom goes for a mere $165 per night and $195 for a Premier Guestroom. Even with the one-time additional charge of $25 per pet, this is a pretty sweet deal for a room such as the one shown below!No Room at This Inn for Pharma!As the program guide says, this event is "Pharma Free: The OAFP is 100% free of any pharmaceutical company funding or support. Consequently, this CME conference has dispensed with a traditional exhibit hall."Presumably, what wo... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1300325 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:06:00 +0100 1300325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1294393&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fzetia-49-strategy-wine-and-dine-em.html I just got this comment from an anonymous source:"Did you hear about SP's 'Zetia 49 Plan'? Apparently they gave all their reps a wad of cash to throw at doctors . . . "Thinking this was just some kind of rant, I went over to the Schering Plough company board at Cafe Pharma and discovered this interesting thread:Wondered what everyone thinks about this Zetia 49 plan??I hate having extra $$ that I have to spend on Drs that I can barely see.I have a hard time spending all my lunch/dinner $$ now.Can't get docs out to dinner anyway - especially the ones they've targeted for me.Why is there no accomodation for additions/deletions on the list from those who know the business, territory, customers the best - the reps??This instruction that we are to have a lunch or dinner EVERY DAY - come on!! Lik... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1294393 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 19:44:00 +0100 1294393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1161017&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fduluth-bans-tchotchkes-thats-snot-funny.html According to a report in the The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, a Duluth-based health system is declaring a ban on drug-logo freebies, no matter how small. That includes, according to the report, a disembodied stuffed nose from Allegra that exclaims, "That's snot funny!"I guess the pharmaceutical industry also doesn't find it funny that more and more hospitals and health systems are banning freebies (aka tchotchkes) that their sales reps give to physicians. See also "Minnesota Limit on Gifts to Doctors May Catch On."Pharmaceutical companies claim that many "freebies" are actually educational. Perhaps the "snot funny" nose with the Allegra logo on it is educational; after all, it coveys an important message that allergies are not funny and may a major cause of the dreaded Runny Nose Syndrome (RN... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1161017 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 13:47:00 +0100 1161017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1120910&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F207563442%2F As we ready ourselves for another day of relaxation with the short people, we thought it may be helpful to pass along a few items as you wind down the work week or continue your own vacation. Whatever your plans, we hope you enjoy….. James Orlowski may not be the only doctor in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area who has given sales reps the boot. But he’s the only regional doc listed in the online directory of No Free Lunch, an organization opposed to accepting freebies from pharma, The St. Petersburg Times writes. Orlowski tells the paper that when he was a med student at Case Western Reserve University 33 years ago, no one discussed the ethics of accepting drug company gifts, and freebies like medical instruments and textbooks were hard to resist. “Then I saw research that sh... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1120910 Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:49:09 +0100 1120910 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1057324&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Ftrue-confessions-redux-another-md-shill.html Yesterday, I wrote about Dr. Carlat's confession of being a shill for Wyeth (see "Dr. Carlat's True Confession: 199,999 More to Go"). As a follow-up, I decided to see what Carlat is saying on his blog and what drugs reps are saying on Cafe Pharma.Carlat recounted some feedback under his post "Return the 30K, You Cheap Thief", which was inspired by a comment made to the WSJ Health Blog. In my critique, I never suggested that Carlat give back the money. He did, after all, take time off to do lunch-and-learns. Many reps in the Wyeth Company board over at Cafe Pharma, however, suggest that these gigs usually involve little or no work at all and may even be counterproductive (see below).Regarding giving the money back, this is Carlat's retort:"I'd be curious to hear opinions about: A. Whether I... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1057324 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:37:00 +0100 1057324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=645004&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Faz-no-cupcakes-for-you.html An AstraZeneca memo forbidding sales reps to give cupcakes to patients was recently released by the "AZ Group of Seven" and published by Peter Rost on the Question Authority Blog:From: Paskman, AndreaSent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 4:49 PMTo: Danhoffer, Ronald E; Hardesty, Edward L: Russel, Joseph; Cioll Richard E (ONC DSM); Karcewski, Thomas M; Call, TeresaCc: Kelly, Shawn; Hagelbarger, Jeff ASubject: FW: MUMs ProgramsImportance: HighFor those who have been asking about the MUMs program:Recently, questions have been raised to both legal and compliance personnel regarding the sales force’s ability to distribute patient educational materials for the MUMs programs. During the month of May 2007, the sales force will be permitted to conduct such in-office MUMs programs, however the following pro... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=645004 Wed, 30 May 2007 18:47:00 +0100 645004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=612110&cid=t_119105_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fwhen-is-free-lunch-more-than-just-lunch.html Time and time again, when I write about physicians getting free lunches delivered by sales reps, someone always comes forward and says something like "It's ridiculous to think that I can be influenced by a $10 lunch!"For some physicians, however, a free lunch has a much greater value than its monetary worth. Take this comment, for example, that I received to the post "Blog Readers' Opinions on Physician Marketing & Education Practices":"I would just like to say that as a former intern and resident working 100-hour weeks while making less than $30K a year, a free lunch now and then was a godsend and brightened up otherwise long and dreary days.""Seriously, though, I do understand why institutions are moving toward these 'No Free Lunch' things, but really, cut the scut workers a break every ... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=612110 Wed, 16 May 2007 16:59:00 +0100 612110