No Free Lunch: Saying No to Drug Reps
April 26th, 2008 by bronxdoc
Under the banner “Just Say No to Drug Reps” the No Free Lunch campaign challenges doctors to give up their dependency on drug companies.
The site uses a alcoholism motif, beginning with a modified CAGE screening test:
- Have you ever prescribed Celebrex?
- Annoyed by people who complain about lunches & free gifts?
- Is there a medication loGo on the pen you are using right now?
- Do you drink your morning Eye-opener out of a Lipitor coffee mug?
Two or more “yes” answers may indicate a problem. But fortunately the campaign can help you with your dependence problem. Visitors can take a pledge to abstain from accepting gifts from drug companies and be listed on a “drug free doctor” database. There is even a “pen amnesty”!
No Free Lunch is the brainchild of Dr. Bob Goodman, a New York internist. Among the other resources on the site are:
- A FAQ page explaining why physicians should not accept gifts from drug representatives.
- A list of suggested advocacy activities.
- Slide presentations and an extensive bibliographic listing regarding physicians and drug promotion.
- An opportunity to purchase “No Free Lunch” themed pens, mugs and t-shirts.
- Links to resources for unbiased information on drugs and resources.
- Links to resources for patients who are having trouble purchasing their medicines.
- Links to other sites critiquing big Pharma, including the British and Italian “No Free Lunch” campaigns.
So, it’s really not all that complicated to deal with drug representatives. Just say no.
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