JABSOM is not Pharm-Free

AMSA PharmFree Scorecard 2008 ranks 150 medical schools on their pharmaceutical rep policies. Only 7 schools received an A while 60 received a failing grade.

JABSOM was the first F.... shame on you, JABSOM! We failed to provide any policy whatsoever on this matter. Comments below:

University of Hawai’i John A Burns School of Medicine has implied that it is not a clinical facility and therefore it is not necessary to create policies in many of the domains on which it was assessed. It should be noted that other schools and colleges of medicine, which are not clinical facilities themselves, have created policies on conflicts of interest that apply to many of the domains assessed.

I've done s presentation about drug reps with my classmates and one of the lecturers in our EBM course expounded on the influence of drug companies in academic medicine. These are just small measures on the part of individuals though and easily tuned out as "just another boring lecture" by students.

AAMC and AMSA are pressuring schools to become more proactive in reducing financial conflicts of interest and lead by example for future doctors. This means banning all gifts and free drug lunches at University events. It means refusing industry support for CME. It means keeping our hands clean and doing our business.

There are some doctors who think that this is impractical. They think that they are immune to influence by pretty women with convincing papers on their latest drug. They think that CME will die without hefty financial support by pharmaceutical companies.

I'm not that naive.

• I know I'm easily impressionable... that's why I do my best to surround myself with good examples.
• In the long run, free samples aren't cheaper if the fancy new designer drug is 10x as expensive and just as effective as a generic drug.
• I don't fret about CME... just checking my blogroll every day is a hefty dose of up-to-date medical education.