There is an unseen bond between pharmaceutical companies and doctors. Pharmaceutical companies need doctors to prescribe their products, and doctors need the financial assistance and marketing capabilities of pharmaceutical companies. The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) has a specific guideline on this matter titled Relationship between Doctors and the Pharmaceutical industry (MMC guideline 007/2006), which aims to ensure that doctors are as ethical as possible when dealing with pharmaceutical companies. I always questioned the wisdom of pharmaceutical companies in only sponsoring the heads of hospital departments to such meetings. I always thought that pharmaceutical companies should identify promising young doctors and support them when they need the sponsorship the most, rather than only sponsoring senior, well-established doctors.

Source: The Star May 24, 2021 04:52 UTC