AFT Pharmaceuticals narrowed its half-year loss. Photo: 123RF
Doctors and nurses were paid almost half a million dollars from drug companies in the form of gifts, travel and sponsorship during 2021, according to a Stuff analysis of data provided to Medicines NZ. It's the first time pharmaceutical companies have publicly reported their financial relationship with individual New Zealand health professionals.
Research shows drug company gifts and payments can influence prescribing and in the wake of the role big pharma played in the US opioid crisis, there has been an international push for more transparency. But the information given to Medicines NZ is far from comprehensive and not all companies handed over their data. So do we really have a true picture of their influence and the payments being made? Kathryn speaks to the Chief Executive of Medicines NZ, Dr Graeme Jarvis and Associate Professor of psychological medicine at Auckland University David Menkes.
