When organising an international medical conference in Sydney, we righteously spurned sponsorship from “big pharma.”1 Caesar’s wife had nothing on us. We solicited support elsewhere and ran a successful conference.
But, when the final figures were reckoned, we made a sobering discovery. Our success was due in large measure to big pharma and “big surgical instrument maker.” They had paid the registration fees of large contingents from two Asian countries.
Our enthusiasm at seeing those delegates at the registration desk on day 1 was totally negated when, having taken photographs in front of the conference banners, they vanished—to tour the city and, for all we know, the neighbouring countryside or the rest of Australia.
How common is this behaviour? What do these companies expect, and receive, in exchange? Is this sponsored tourism acceptable in their home countries? Are the same sorts of offerings made to Australian doctors regarding trips overseas?
Competing interests: None declared.
References
- 1.Moynihan R. Doctors’ education: the invisible influence of drug company sponsorship. BMJ 2008;336:416-7. (23 February.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]